District Leaders Archives

Four pre-K students sit together on a carpet, writing on a Summarizing Mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning as they develop early literacy skills and experience the full rigor of the pre-K curriculum.

District Leaders School Leaders

Activating Rigor in Your Pre-K Curriculum with Deeper Learning

It’s a common question: Can pre-K students really engage in deeper learning? The answer—backed by…

instructionalempowermentJune 2, 2025

School administrator stands in front of a screen showing bar graphs going up, which is the data from a classroom walkthrough tool, RigorWalk and Rigor Appraisal.

District Leaders School Leaders

How Schools Are Increasing Student Achievement with RigorWalk, a Research-Validated Classroom Walkthrough Tool

RigorWalk is a research-validated classroom walkthrough tool proven to predict student achievement and used nationwide,…

instructionalempowermentMay 21, 2025

District Leaders School Leaders

[Peer-Reviewed Research] Leading Indicators of Academic Achievement: Investigating the Predictive Validity of an Observation Instrument in a Large District

This study of 53 Illinois schools examines the validity of the Rigor Appraisal tool.

instructionalempowermentApril 22, 2025

Three elementary age students work on a colorful carpet on the floor, with a whiteboard mat between them and dry erase markers, using a tool from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning.

District Leaders School Leaders

English Learners Are Capable of More—If We Make the Shift to Deeper Learning

To improve outcomes for English learners, we need a model of instruction that empowers all…

instructionalempowermentApril 16, 2025

Four elementary students sit with their desks pushed together, reading books, writing, and having a team discussion as they engage in a model of deeper learning that integrates all students, including those with IEPs.

District Leaders School Leaders

Why Students with Disabilities Are Still Left Out—And How to Change That with Deeper Learning

Students with IEPs are often left out of deeper learning. To truly include them and…

instructionalempowermentApril 9, 2025

Three elementary students in a Title 1 school sit at a table together, writing on a summarizing mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning as they engage in deeper learning.

District Leaders School Leaders

Deeper Learning for Title 1 Schools

Within Title 1 schools lies the promise of an uplifting public education system if we…

instructionalempowermentMarch 28, 2025

An education leader and coach sit together in a school classroom setting, with one writing on a poster and the other taking notes, representing planning for activating the rigor in curriculum implementation.

District Leaders

Activating the Rigor in Your Curriculum Implementation: A Series for District Leaders

How does your model of instruction impact the rigor of your curriculum implementation? This series…

instructionalempowermentMarch 21, 2025

Three elementary aged students lean toward one another, fully engaged as they collaborate on their academic work, which is a powerful way to prevent chronic absenteeism.

District Leaders School Leaders

The Most Powerful Intervention for Chronic Absenteeism Is Making School Worth Attending

Making school worth attending is the most powerful overlooked chronic absenteeism intervention. Uncover root causes…

instructionalempowermentFebruary 21, 2025

About 30 teachers, leaders, and school staff from Lakewood Elementary stand on the steps in front of their school, smiling proudly at their improvements and achievements as they overcame teacher turnover and saw less teachers leaving the profession.

District Leaders School Leaders

Teacher Turnover Is Not Inevitable: Evidence-Based Retention Strategies to Keep Teachers from Leaving the Profession

Teacher turnover is not inevitable. Research on attrition, retention, burnout, and strategies for principals to…

instructionalempowermentFebruary 10, 2025

Principals and other school leaders and administrators sit together at a table, discussing and writing on papers as they learn about the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning, including how to increase teacher agency.

District Leaders School Leaders

How Education Leaders Can Harness Teacher Agency to Improve Student Outcomes

Using research-based strategies, leaders can build teacher agency, increase teacher retention, improve student achievement, and…

instructionalempowermentFebruary 5, 2025

District Leaders

Activating Rigor in Your Pre-K Curriculum with Deeper Learning

How Schools Are Increasing Student Achievement with RigorWalk, a Research-Validated Classroom Walkthrough Tool

[Peer-Reviewed Research] Leading Indicators of Academic Achievement: Investigating the Predictive Validity of an Observation Instrument in a Large District

English Learners Are Capable of More—If We Make the Shift to Deeper Learning

Why Students with Disabilities Are Still Left Out—And How to Change That with Deeper Learning

Deeper Learning for Title 1 Schools

Activating the Rigor in Your Curriculum Implementation: A Series for District Leaders

The Most Powerful Intervention for Chronic Absenteeism Is Making School Worth Attending

Teacher Turnover Is Not Inevitable: Evidence-Based Retention Strategies to Keep Teachers from Leaving the Profession

How Education Leaders Can Harness Teacher Agency to Improve Student Outcomes

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