In our work with schools and districts across the country, we’ve seen something again and again: Even passionate leaders with strong ideas and a clear vision can feel stuck, cycling through initiatives that don’t stick or create lasting change.

And often this reality isn't about a lack of effort or commitment. The real challenge is finding a way to move from intention to impact in a way that’s sustainable, collaborative, and grounded in real results. That takes a process that’s collaborative, grounded in real data, and flexible enough to learn from what’s actually happening as a result of changes being made in the classroom.

That’s where the Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry, or ROCI, comes in.

At Partners in School Innovation, ROCI is one of the most powerful tools we use—and coach others to use—to lead meaningful change. Not just for a semester or school year, but in ways that build habits, grow leadership, and create the kind of momentum that lasts well beyond our time together.

What is the Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry (ROCI)?

ROCI is a five-step continuous improvement cycle that helps educators focus their efforts, monitor their impact, and make adjustments rooted in what’s actually happening with students and staff.

An infographic labeled "Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry." The cycle is presented with arrows connected in a clockwise direction with five segments: "Set Goals”, “Plan", "Act", "Assess", and "Reflect & Adjust" leading back to "Set Goals.“

At its core, ROCI helps educators stay focused and committed to what matters most and learn from practice. It gives structure to the work of change and helps teams build habits that make progress sustainable over time.

In our coaching we use ROCI at all levels, including across leadership teams, grade-level teams, instructional-level teams, and even district departments. No matter the setting, the goal is the same: support educator and student learning in ways that are intentional, collaborative, and grounded in evidence.

Whether you’re planning for the year, leading a weekly team meeting, or trying out new strategies in the classroom, each phase of the cycle invites teams to slow down, get clear on their goals, and reflect on what’s working and what needs to shift.

Here’s how the cycle works in practice:

Partnering

It starts with partnering to build real relationships grounded in trust, shared goals, and a deep understanding of each other’s values and context. This is the foundation. When people feel seen and heard, it creates space for honest collaboration.

Set Goals

From there, teams move into setting goals. This means taking a close look at the current reality, often through disaggregated data analysis, and identifying the students most in need of support. Together, the team defines SMART, equitable goals that will guide the work.

Plan

In the planning phase, teams translate those goals into specific actions. They outline what success will look like in the short term, clarify roles, and allocate the time and resources needed to move forward with confidence. This is also where teams develop or revisit their Theory of Action to stay aligned and focused, clearly naming what they believe will lead to improvement and how they’ll measure success.

Act

With a plan in place, teams move into action. They implement the strategies, support each other through collaboration and coaching, and monitor how the work is showing up day to day. When our coaches at Partners are working with school or district teams, this is a place where they would model new practices or facilitate professional development and collaboration that helps the plan come to life.

Reflect and Adjust

This step is about asking, "What are we learning?" and using data to understand what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to shift. Teams revisit their Theory of Action, refine their strategies, and make adjustments based on evidence. From here, they might continue refining their approach or identify a new goal. The cycle doesn’t end here, it evolves, creating momentum and clarity for what comes next.

We’ve seen ROCI bring clarity and momentum to even the most complex school improvement efforts. And because it centers learning, collaboration, and reflection, implementing ROCI builds the kind of capacity that outlasts any single initiative or partnership.

How Results-Oriented Cycles of Inquiry Show Up in the Real Work

Imagine a school leadership team begins the year with a clear goal: improving early literacy outcomes for multilingual learners. With support from a Partners coach, they co-develop a Theory of Action, identifying that they believe that frequent, intentional small-group instruction will lead to stronger foundational reading skills.

Using ROCI, they map out the year: setting interim benchmarks, supporting teachers through collaborative planning, and reviewing walkthrough and assessment data biweekly. As they notice uneven progress across grade levels, they pause to reflect, adjust their supports, and refine their Theory of Action. Instead of waiting until the end of the year, they’re learning from practice along the way, and making timely, informed decisions that keep students at the center.

In the schools we’ve supported, we’ve seen ROCI take shape in different ways, each grounded in the local context and needs of educators and students.

We’ve seen this same approach come to life in West Contra Costa Unified, where a school partnered with Partners coaches to co-create a literacy-focused Theory of Action. They used ROCI to bring that theory to life, setting goals, analyzing data, reflecting on instruction, and making adjustments over time. This consistent cycle supported measurable improvements in both reading and math.

A blue graphic with a testimonial from the Principal at the West Contra Costa Unified Elementary School: “[Partners] helped me clarify my vision for the school and think purposefully about what I’m doing.”

At Wright Elementary in Philadelphia, Principal Sakia Beard led her school through regular ROCI cycles anchored in a clear Theory of Action. The team engaged in consistent planning, implementation, and reflection. As a result, the school moved out of the state’s bottom 5% and saw a 9% increase in overall achievement. Beard shared that ROCI “created a clear roadmap for our team to follow and space for us to learn from our work as we went.”

And in a Transformation Network that we lead with a group of schools in San Jose, our coached led training for each school’s team of 4-6 leaders, teachers, and instructional coaches on how to set and assess data-driven goals using the Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry (ROCI). One middle school in the network saw notable gains in student achievement, including a 4-point increase in math and a 2-point increase in ELA for students scoring in the highest performance band, alongside strengthened teacher practice and greater student voice.

Across every setting the main purpose of using the ROCI is to start improvement work with a purpose, stay grounded in real evidence, grow stronger with each cycle, and build the habit of learning.

Interested in Learning More About Leading Improvement Work?

If you’re ready to take these steps further, we’re here to help. Our coaches at Partners in School Innovation offer hands-on support for schools and districts committed to creating equitable learning environments for all students, including.

Contact our team to explore how we can support your goals and help you take meaningful steps toward equity.

You can also access more of our professional learning resources:

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Collaborate with more than 650 equity-focused education leaders sharing resources, ideas, and inspiration every week. This community connects you with peers navigating the same challenges and trusted leaders dedicated to solving systemic inequities.

Join the online community here.

Explore Online Professional Development Courses for Educators

Our on-demand, self-paced courses are designed by leading experts and focus on equity-driven strategies. These include curated activities, opportunities to practice, and space for reflection.

Popular courses include:

Leading Improvement Cycles
From Root Causes to Grassroots Action
Change Management

Browse the full course catalog here.

Looking for something custom? We also create tailored courses for schools and districts. Let us know if you’d like to develop one designed to meet your unique needs.

The Results-Oriented Cycle of Inquiry: A Framework for Continuous Improvement in Schools