August Issue Brief: Effective Feedback for Educators

Posted on September 4, 2018September 3, 2018 by coreeducation

Teachers need helpful feedback and support to improve their instruction and own their professional growth. But what kinds of feedback translate into improved teaching practice? In Core Education’s August issue brief, we explore the research on teacher feedback, including teacher perceptions of feedback systems, characteristics of feedback that may influence teacher response, tools and resources Read more about August Issue Brief: Effective Feedback for Educators[…]

Curriculum as a Lever for Change

Posted on August 29, 2018August 17, 2018 by coreeducation

Ashley Berner, writing for Fordham’s Flypaper, explores the power of curriculum as a serious lever for change. Her post summarizes the research on this important topic. Excerpts appear below: American policymakers haven’t usually viewed curriculum as a serious lever for change. This is unfortunate, since a growing body of research suggests that a high-quality curriculum, Read more about Curriculum as a Lever for Change[…]

Student Learning That Works: How Brain Science Informs a Student Learning Model

Posted on August 15, 2018August 7, 2018 by coreeducation

Knowing how the brain receives new information, creates memories, and accesses stored knowledge can help educators plan memorable lessons for their students. In a new report, Student Learning that Works: How Brain Science Informs a Student Learning Model, McREL CEO and author Bryan Goodwin reviews the science of memory and gives practical classroom tips and Read more about Student Learning That Works: How Brain Science Informs a Student Learning Model[…]

Marc Tucker on Professionalizing Teaching

Posted on July 19, 2018July 15, 2018 by coreeducation

Recently in Marc Tucker’s blog for the National Center on Education and the Economy, he explored the concept of professionalizing teaching, claiming that it requires an occupational overhaul, not just salary increases for the same occupation. Excerpts of the piece appear below: It costs no more to run a high-performance education system that produces high Read more about Marc Tucker on Professionalizing Teaching[…]

High-Quality Curricula and Team-Based Professional Learning: A Perfect Partnership for Equity

Posted on July 18, 2018July 15, 2018 by coreeducation

Learning Forward has released a new report, High-Quality Curricula and Team Based Professional Learning: A Perfect Partnership for Equity. This report is based on three premises: Research has found that effective teaching and high-quality materials both matter for student learning. Effective use of curriculum requires teachers who understand it deeply and use it with intentionality Read more about High-Quality Curricula and Team-Based Professional Learning: A Perfect Partnership for Equity[…]

Denver’s New Experiment with the First Year of Teaching

Posted on July 17, 2018July 15, 2018 by coreeducation

Melanie Asmar, writing for Chalkbeat, recently explored Denver’s new experiment to make the first year of teaching more bearable. Excerpts from the piece appear below: Next year, Denver is piloting the role of “associate teachers” in Denver Public Schools. These teachers will teach part-time in a high-poverty school and spend the rest of their Read more about Denver’s New Experiment with the First Year of Teaching[…]

Next Steps for Teacher Evaluation Reform

Posted on June 14, 2018June 10, 2018 by coreeducation

Matthew Kraft, an assistant professor of education and economics at Brown University, has researched teacher evaluation reform extensively, through surveys of principals and multiple studies of state teacher-rating systems. FutureEd Director Thomas Toch spoke with Kraft to get his perspectives on the teacher evaluation landscape. Below, he talks about the value of having multiple rating Read more about Next Steps for Teacher Evaluation Reform[…]

Supporting Teachers So They and Their Students Can Thrive

Posted on May 24, 2018May 20, 2018 by coreeducation

Recently in The 74, Erin Figula wrote an opinion piece detailing three ways district leaders and administrators can authentically support teachers. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Increase Access to Meaningful Professional Learning While 84 percent of teachers say they wish they had access to more professional development opportunities, they’re not looking for more one-time Read more about Supporting Teachers So They and Their Students Can Thrive[…]

50-State Comparison: School Leader Certification and Preparation Programs

Posted on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 by coreeducation

Research shows school leadership is a pivotal factor in improving student achievement and retaining quality teachers. In fact, among school-related factors, leadership is found to have one of the greatest impacts on student learning — second only to classroom instruction. However, many districts are challenged by high rates of turnover, resulting in shortages and inexperienced Read more about 50-State Comparison: School Leader Certification and Preparation Programs[…]

Early-Career Teachers’ Preparation and Support

Posted on May 2, 2018April 27, 2018 by coreeducation

In school year 2011-12, the majority of early-career teachers (i.e., teachers who had taught for five or fewer years) in public schools reported that they were well prepared for a range of instructional duties in their first year of teaching. The National Center for Education Statistics released a new Statistics in Brief report entitled “Preparation Read more about Early-Career Teachers’ Preparation and Support[…]

Teacher Coaching Can Boost Instruction and Student Achievement. But Can It Be Scaled Up?

Posted on April 13, 2018April 6, 2018 by coreeducation

One-on-one teacher coaching generates meaningful improvements to both classroom instruction and student achievement, according to a newly published meta-analysis of existing research. But there’s a tricky caveat: Efforts to expand coaching programs on a wider scale might only dilute their value, the authors find. Key takeaways from this study include the following: Coaching programs tend Read more about Teacher Coaching Can Boost Instruction and Student Achievement. But Can It Be Scaled Up?[…]

Key Strategies to Promote Educator Effectiveness

Posted on April 5, 2018March 29, 2018 by coreeducation

According to a new evaluation brief from National Center for Education Evaluation (NCEE), providing educators with performance feedback and offering pay-for-performance bonuses can improve student achievement. The evaluation brief synthesizes two recent NCEE impact studies, which evaluated key strategies that can be funded through the federal Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grants and its successor program, Read more about Key Strategies to Promote Educator Effectiveness[…]

Finding Time for Collaborative Planning

Posted on March 21, 2018March 16, 2018 by coreeducation

In Igniting the Learning Engine: How school systems accelerate teacher effectiveness and student growth through Connected Professional Learning (which we blogged about here: http://www.coreeducationllc.com/blog2/igniting-learning-engine/), authors profiled four school systems that, with an intensive focus on improving the quality of instruction through professional learning, have seen above-average results with a relatively high-need student population. Making the Read more about Finding Time for Collaborative Planning[…]

Developing a Professional Learning System for Adults in Service of Student Learning

Posted on March 15, 2018March 9, 2018 by coreeducation

The Aspen Institute Education & Society Program released a framework that outlines the elements of a coherent, district-wide professional learning system. Developing a Professional Learning System for Adults in Service of Student Learning is the culmination of collaborations with urban district leaders, teachers, and partners over the last several years, and it articulates a core Read more about Developing a Professional Learning System for Adults in Service of Student Learning[…]

Study Finds Student Learning Gains in Schools with Multi-Classroom Leaders

Posted on March 1, 2018February 23, 2018 by coreeducation

In survey after survey, teachers report dissatisfaction with the professional development they receive. Many aren’t satisfied with their professional learning communities or coaching opportunities. Teachers say they want more on-the-job development, career advancement while teaching, and collaboration time. Some teachers are getting what they want. But is that good news for students? Do their students Read more about Study Finds Student Learning Gains in Schools with Multi-Classroom Leaders[…]