All Systems Go: The Change Imperative for Whole System Reform

"Michael Fullan has once again hit the ball out of the park—a grand slam. All those interested in whole system education reform will want to read this book from cover to cover." —Sir Michael Barber, Former Head of Tony Blair′s Delivery Unit Author of Instruction to Deliver "All Systems Go is exactly what we need at this crucial time. Fullan boldly challenges politicians and professionals to unite for the good of our society. And best of all, he shows them how to do it." —Avis Glaze, President, Edu-quest International Inc. Former Chief Student Officer of Ontario, Canada A powerful approach to sustainable school system change that involves all stakeholders! Changing whole education systems for the better, as measured by student achievement, requires coordinated leadership at the school, community, district, and government levels. Based on Michael Fullan′s work with school districts and large systems in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, this resource lays out a comprehensive action plan for achieving whole system reform. System-wide reform becomes possible when educational leaders build collective capacity and where individual teachers, schools, and districts are committed to working together to increase their effectiveness, rather than competing against one another. This book examines: Successful reform initiatives in the United States and abroad Actions and conditions that have ensured traction and sustainability Ways to avoid common errors in action, funding, and policy New reforms at the national level that can impact learning right now All Systems Go shows educators what must be done to strip away distractions and move an entire system forward.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Peter Senge Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Part I. The System 1. The Idea and Importance of Whole System Reform 2. Deceptive Inadequacies Part II. Getting There 3. Collective Capacity at the School and District Level 4. The State We Are In 5. Individual Capacity Building Part III. A New Era 6. Politicians and Professionals Unite References Index

About the Author :
Michael Fullan, Order of Canada, is the former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto. He is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative. Michael served as Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Special Policy Adviser in Ontario from 2003-2013. He received the Order of Canada (OC) in December 2012 and holds five honorary doctorates from universities around the world. His ‘interim autobiography,’ Surreal Change, covers his pre-Covid-19 era to 2018. Michael and his colleagues are now working diligently on field-based comprehensive system change in several countries. Under the umbrella of what they call the ‘humanity paradigm’ —equitable-equal deep change that integrates local (school and community), middle (district/regional), and centre (policy) entities. Michael’s latest books are: Spirit Work and the Science of Collaboration (with Mark Edwards, 2022), The Principal 2.0 (2023), The Drivers (with Joanne Quinn, 2023), and The New Meaning of Educational Change, 6th Edition (2025). For more information on books, articles, videos, podcasts please go to: www.michaelfullan.ca

Review :
“Why do so many educational reforms look promising in a single school and then fail when brought to scale for an entire system? Michael Fullan reminds us that it is neither a lack of knowledge nor the absence of honorable intentions that causes this scenario, but rather a failure of system capacity and coherence. Fullan’s advice is as trenchant for national policy makers as it is for local school leaders and teachers. The strategies of developing collective efficacy that Fullan so clearly and compellingly proposes, strategies incidentally that are already in practice, are as essential in the halls of government as they are in the hallways of every school.” "The book is packed with information and research that will change the way you think about district reform." "Michael Fullan provides a very clear and compelling case for the potential of whole-system education reform by drawing on evidence and lessons from successful examples and by raising important and timely cautions about current reform strategies, particularly in the US and with international resonance. By introducing the concept of collective capacity building, Fullan encourages us to recognize that educational improvement requires each of us individually to contribute fully and, most important, all of us—politicians, officials, educators, students, parents and other partners—to work together for improved student outcomes. Fullan′s expert advice has been invaluable in Ontario with a system on the go and improved results.” “All Systems Go is vintage Fullan. It takes a complex problem—how to change the whole system—and offers, in a crystal clear and assertive way, advice on what not to do and what exactly to do. Policy makers, read this book with care and use it as your starting point in building capacity across the whole system and ending up with smarter and greater accountability than ever before.’’ "Michael Fullan has once again hit the ball out of the park—a grand slam. All those interested in whole system education reform will want to read this book from cover to cover." "A superb book, offering a compelling and transformative model for system change grounded in principle and forged in practice. Fullan provides the tools—conceptual, strategic, and structural—for system leaders at every level to create a whole system that develops collective capacity and efficacy.” “Michael Fullan hits the mark again. All Systems Go is exactly what we need at this crucial time in education reform around the globe. Fullan exhorts us to get our act together and deliver value. He is persuasive in delineating powerful, high-leverage strategies and in describing what it takes to deliver on our promise to develop high-performing schools to enhance students’ life chances. He emphasizes the notion of collective capacity in evoking the emotional commitment and technical expertise necessary for meaningful change and improvement. Fullan boldly challenges politicians and professionals to unite for the good of our society. And best of all, he shows them how to do it.”