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The Nation’s Most Research-Validated Classroom Walkthrough Tool

For the first time ever, school and district leaders have a metric that predicts student learning gains. Rigor Classroom Walk is a research-based walkthrough tool designed to measure the quality and effectiveness of Tier 1 instruction in real-time—without evaluating teachers and without additional student testing.

RigorWalk™ captures instructional trends using our exclusive, research-validated predictive metrics, helping leaders track progress and pinpoint areas for instructional improvement. With easy-to-share, color-coded trend reports, leaders gain an actionable snapshot of student learning in just 5 to 10 minutes per classroom.

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A Research-Backed and Highly Valued Leadership Tool

Developed by Instructional Empowerment’s Applied Research Center, RigorWalk is built upon extensive research into the critical causal systems of student growth and achievement. RigorWalk was developed from the Rigor Appraisal instrument, which is scientifically correlated with both benchmark and state assessment learning gains. A peer-reviewed research study found that higher scores on the Rigor Appraisal had a statistically significant correlation to:

  • Higher ELA rates
  • Higher math learning rates
  • Higher student attendance
  • Lower behavior referrals
  • Lower suspension rates

Used in hundreds of thousands of classrooms, it provides school and district leaders with a leading metric that confidently predicts student outcomes. You will know if you are on track to achieve your goals every month – no more waiting and hoping. By leveraging leading data on instruction, Rigor Classroom Walk helps leaders assess what’s happening in classrooms and determine the next steps for driving student success.

More Walks, Greater Student Achievement

Research shows that ongoing classroom walkthroughs lead to measurable gains in student achievement, particularly in math and ELA. By consistently using RigorWalk, leaders can identify instructional gaps, provide timely support, and track progress toward student learning goals.

The more classroom visits that school leadership teams conducted using the Rigor Classroom Walk tool, the greater the association with student achievement in both math and ELA on the state assessment.

“As a school, having the ability to use the Rigor Classroom Walk tool to track how we’re shifting instruction and learning across time has allowed us to really drill down into what our needs are. As we’re putting in intentional supports and strategies to be able to move the needle in a particular area, it’s allowed us to track progress across time.”

Cristina Smith
Principal, Warfield Elementary, Indiantown, FL

“One of my key learnings from the partnership has been the power of tracking through Rigor Classroom Walks and tracking the alignment of the learning target, the success criteria, and the standards. We can see the progress, and we’re able to measure it. That has been key for us in terms of our progress. We know if we’re doing better, if we need to improve, and if there is an area we need to focus on.”

Iris Rocio Jimenez
Principal, Scharbauer Elementary School, Midland, TX

The Three Pillars of RigorWalk

Rigor Classroom Walk focuses on what matters most for student success:

Standards-Based Student Evidence

Identifying how well students demonstrate mastery of academic standards.

Organizing Students to Achieve the Standard

Observing how all students actively engage in rigorous learning aligned to learning standards.

Monitoring to Take Action Within a Lesson

Ensuring instructional decisions are based on real-time student needs.

These three research-based pillars of classroom instruction ensure that rigor is both present and accessible to all students in every classroom.

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Why Choose RigorWalk?

  • Research-Backed & Highly Validated – Developed from extensive research by the Applied Research Center.
  • Predicts Student Learning Gains – Provides insights into future academic performance without additional student testing.
  • Measures Tier 1 Instruction – Utilizes student evidence to reveal instructional trends.
  • Pinpoints Root Causes – Identified issues like low rigor and student disengagement.
  • Not an Evaluation Tool – Focuses on student learning, not teacher performance.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making – Provides clear insights to guide instructional improvements across schools and districts.
  • Captures Trends at Scale – Provides powerful reports for leaders on school and districtwide trends, such as trends by grade and subject as well as by groups of schools such as areas/regions and elementary, middle, and secondary.
  • Empowers Leaders – Helps principals and instructional leaders build capacity and drive meaningful change.
  • Digital & Efficient – Quickly collects and analyzes data, offering a real-time snapshot of classroom instruction.

Empower your team, strengthen instruction, and transform learning outcomes. Hear more about the RigorWalk tool, platform, support, and training.

Transform Instruction with Actionable Metrics

Digital Tool & Online Learning

The Rigor Classroom Walk is a powerful digital tool designed to make classroom observations more efficient and insightful. Accessible on any device—computer, tablet, or phone—it simplifies the process with rubrics that allow each walk to be completed in just 5-10 minutes. Along with the tool, you gain access to online courses and additional resources to support effective implementation. Plus, built-in data-sharing features ensure transparency, making it easy to keep leaders informed.

Enhance Your Implementation

School leaders and teachers sit at a table while an expert coach looks on, guiding them through a collaborative professional development session to support school improvement after a comprehensive needs assessment.

Take your implementation to the next level with additional support designed to ensure accuracy and impact. Our calibration sessions help educators refine their scoring for consistency and reliability, on guidance to deepen understanding and application. These recommended supports empower your team with expert-led training and best practices—ensuring every classroom walkthrough drives meaningful improvement.

See How Rigor Classroom Walk Can Empower Your Schools

Speak to an expert educator today about a free demonstration to learn how RigorWalk can provide the insights you need to drive instructional excellence.