Recommendations for Once Implementation

The Once team is ready to help you think through the timeline, personnel, space, and scheduling and answer any questions that your schools may have about implementing the Once program.

Students

Key Questions	Once Recommendations	Notes
How many students are assigned to each Once instructor?	Recommended ratio of 1 instructor to 10 students
What grade(s)?	Pre-K/K: Tier I or Tier 2 intervention; Grade 1: Tier 2 intervention.
How will students be selected? If by diagnostic, when is the diagnostic administered?	This is determined by each district and/or school. The Once team will provide recommendations based on the context of the district and/or schools.

Instructors

Key Questions	Once Recommendations	Notes
Who can be a Once instructor?	School staff in any role other than lead classroom teacher can serve as a Once instructor.
How many hours a day does a Once instructor dedicate to Once?	A Once instructor ideally will dedicate at least three hours each day Once in order to teach at least 10 students (2.5 hours of total instruction with time for transitions between each 15-minute session).
What will instructors do during the other hours?	This is dependent on school needs and is determined by school leaders.
What responsibilities did Once instructors have previously that they will no longer be able to perform during the school day?	That varies depending on who is serving as Once instructors at each school. It is critical that school leaders are explicit about these trade-offs and plan how to support school staff with the adjustments in responsibilities.
Who will cover Once instructors' other responsibilities while they are providing Once instruction?	That varies depending on the school. School leaders need to intentionally plan for how responsibilities of staff serving as Once instructors are shifted during the school day.
Will Once instructors get pulled from Once to do substitute teaching?	Instructors should be protected from serving as substitute teachers.
Who manages instructors day to day? Who will be the Once point person at the school?	The point person will manage instructors day to day. That decision is usually made by the principal. It is recommended that someone other than the principal serves as the point person.
Does an instructor need to have experience teaching reading?	Instructors do not need experience in teaching reading.

Schedule

Key Questions	Once Recommendations	Notes
Does the schedule allow students to receive five days of instruction per week?	School leaders work with the program team to build a schedule that will enable instructors and students to meet five days per week.
Should students be pulled for Once at the same time every day? If so, will the student miss the same subject every day?	This is a school-based decision and based on the daily classroom schedule.

Location

Key Questions	Once Recommendations	Notes
Where should instruction take place?	Instruction should take place somewhere quiet, which could be at the back of the classroom, in the hallway, or in a separate room. The location is preferably near the classroom to minimize transition time.

Assessment/Research

Key Questions	Once Recommendations	Notes
What benchmark assessment does the district/school use (BOY, MOY, EOY)?	This is determined by each district and/or school. The Once team will provide recommendations based on the context of the district and/or schools.