A Simple Framework for Navigating Complex School Change: The Lippitt-Knoster Model
As a new school year begins, many school communities face familiar challenges: ongoing change and the need to adapt quickly. For example, in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), the past three years have brought significant shifts. Educators have implemented new curriculum in math and ELA, and this year they are introducing a brand new science curriculum.
Through our close collaboration with SDP leaders and educators, we have seen firsthand the demands that continuous change places on school communities. The pace and scope of these shifts can be daunting, but they also present a unique opportunity to strengthen systems, align teams, and elevate student learning.
For school and teacher leaders, it is critical to recognize that change is not linear. Staff experience and respond to transitions in different ways, and their support needs will evolve throughout the year. Pausing to assess where your team is in the cycle of change allows you to create the conditions necessary for clarity, alignment, and sustained momentum.
One framework that provides clear guidance in these moments is the Lippitt-Knoster Model for Managing Complex Change. This model identifies the essential conditions for effective change and illustrates the consequences when any condition is absent—confusion, resistance, or frustration.
It proposes that for any complex change to succeed, five conditions must be present:
Vision
Skills
Incentives
Resources
Action Plan
When any of these elements are missing, the change effort can fail, leading to predictable negative outcomes for staff”
False starts
Frustration
Resistance
Anxiety
Confusion
The model's simple visual framework helps leaders quickly diagnose what's needed to build clarity and alignment, providing a shared language to guide teams through challenges and sustain momentum toward lasting growth.
Image description: Graphic of the Lippitt-Knoster Model for Managing Complex Change chart showing consequences of not meeting all optimal conditions for change management.
We have used this model with school teams to guide reflection on implementation, identify staff support priorities, and coordinate planning across the school year. Its visual simplicity belies its power, offering a shared language and structure for complex initiatives.
To explore change management further, consider these resources:
Article – Rewriting Curriculum: Managing this Complex Change: A practical guide with concrete examples adaptable to your team.
Resource video in our Community – How to Use the Lippitt-Knoster Model: A concise, visual walk-through with actionable strategies for implementation this school year.
Community course – Data Informed Change Management: A course in our free Community for educators to help people learn strategies for leading impactful educational changes, managing resistance, fostering inclusivity, and promoting systemic change.
Starting the year with intentional leadership sets the tone for staff, students, and the larger school community. By assessing needs, providing consistent support, and guiding teams through change with clarity, school leaders can transform challenges into lasting growth.
Looking for more insights on navigating change in your school community? We invite you to join the Partners in School Innovation Community, where 650+ equity-focused educators are sharing strategies, resources, and reflections every week.
