Strategy Map Guidance

Cognia Improvement Platform: Now Active

Who Is Impacted?

All North Dakota state contract members now have access to the new Cognia Improvement Platform. This includes state agency leaders, district leaders, and school-level users who engage with improvement planning, surveys, evaluations, and reporting tools.

What Changed?

The new Cognia Improvement Platform is live and replaces the previous platform. All key tools are now in one connected space, including improvement planning, surveys, observations, and reporting, accessible through a single sign-on via Cognia Home. Navigation is more intuitive, duplication is reduced, and the full continuous improvement cycle is better supported from observation through planning and implementation.

Important: All schools must submit their Strategy Map in the new platform. The previous platform is retired and is no longer in use. Please confirm with your continuous improvement teams that plans are not being submitted in the old system. If your team has not yet logged in, now is a good time to get oriented before fall planning begins.

2026-2027 Strategy Map Due Date UPDATE

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the annual Strategy Map due date is moving from June 1 to September 1. This change is intended to give districts and schools additional flexibility to finalize plans using the most current data and staffing context as the school year begins, and to align with NDDPI reporting timelines.

Plans may still be submitted at any time before September 1. Districts and schools are welcome to continue developing their Strategy Maps in the spring or summer if that best fits local planning needs.

For questions regarding strategic plan requirements for school approval, please contact the Office of School Approval & Opportunity.

Training & Support Resources

Training videos are now available to help districts and schools get started in the new platform and build continuous improvement planning skills. Videos 1 through 5, covering Getting Started through the Planning Phase, are available on the NDDPI/Cognia Partnership page at any time:

Access training videos and continuous improvement resources

These resources are especially helpful for staff who were not able to attend the in-person training sessions held across the state in spring 2026. Additional in-person training opportunities are planned for spring 2027.