In the Hastings Nebraska Public schools, two of the eight schools have been identified as national models of educational effectiveness. In seven of eight buildings, in just four years, student test scores have increased from around 60% proficiency to around 80% proficiency or better. At Hastings, central office leaders emphasize three key principles and four critical questions. Those principles are: (1) a focus on learning; (2) staff working collaboratively; and (3) using results to improve both student learning and instructional practice. The critical questions are: (1) What do we want students to know and do? (2) How will we assess what students know and do? (3) What will we do for students who don't yet know what we want them to know and do? (4) What will we do for students who do know and can do and need to move on to more advanced learning? Any innovation must fall within those three principles or help district leaders answer one or more of the four critical questions.