Too many schools exit accountability status—only to land back there again. We help you prevent that “yo-yo effect.”
School Improvement Partnerships
Research-validated professional learning, coaching, and tools to raise achievement through lasting systems—not quick fixes.
A Proven Path to Lasting, Measurable Results
We’ve partnered with schools nationwide to help them rapidly exit turnaround status and continue improving. Our systems-based approach strengthens Tier 1 instruction, equips leaders to drive lasting school improvement, and aligns your team to a clear vision for student success.
This is not a program or a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a partnership tailored to your needs, with results validated by the Applied Research Center.
How We Help Schools Improve:
- Root-Cause Focus: We help you address the systems behind your biggest challenges—not just triage the symptoms.
- Stronger Tier 1 Instruction: Our high-engagement model increases rigor in every grade, subject, and curriculum—for ALL students.
- Long-Term Capacity Building: We build the capacity of your teachers, coaches, and leaders through expert coaching by former principals—so results sustain long after we’re gone.
- Actionable, Validated Data: We use the nation’s most research-validated tools so you can measure rigor and guide improvement.
- Rapid & Sustainable Results: Our approach delivers quick wins that lead to long-term growth in achievement, behavior, engagement, attendance, and teacher retention.
We support all schools, including those in Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) status, those aiming to prevent future designation, and those who have just exited state turnaround status.
Bring lasting improvements in achievement, behavior, and retention to your school.
Hear Instructional Empowerment’s founder and CEO, Michael Toth, explain why systems-based work empowers schools to improve student outcomes.
Partner Schools’ Successes
97
Teacher Retention After Two Years
Lakewood Elementary had a teacher retention rate of only 30%. Teacher retention jumped to 85% in the first year of partnership and to 97% in the second year of partnership.
37
Decrease in Discipline Referrals within One Year
Walnut Middle School saw a dramatic decrease in discipline referrals in their first year – down from 777 to 489.
93
Closure in Reading Performance Gap
At McLaughlin Middle School, performance gaps closed by 93% in reading and 69% in math between 7th grade Hispanic and Non-Hispanic students.
Our Unique Approach to School Improvement
Comprehensive needs assessment to identify root causes and create an action plan
Model of instruction for student-centered learning and high engagement
Leadership routines for rapid improvement cycles
Research-validated tools to measure rigor and make adjustments
Progress monitoring for shared accountability
Expert side-by-side coaching to develop capacity
Hear more about our School Improvement Partnerships from one of our Expert Educators.
Start with a Needs Assessment & Action Plan
Every successful transformation starts with seeing the full picture. Our School Comprehensive Needs Assessment reveals the gaps and opportunities in your systems so we can co-develop a strategic action plan for school improvement.
Key Outcomes of Your Comprehensive Needs Assessment:
- A deep, research-based diagnostic of your Tier 1 instruction, leadership, and operational systems.
- Insight into root causes behind performance gaps—not just surface symptoms.
- A collaborative process that aligns your team around strengths and areas for growth and helps you make strategic decisions.
- A co-developed, data-informed action plan tied directly to your school’s goals.
“In previous years, the SCNA process was a little bit like going through the motions. When we worked with Instructional Empowerment, the amount of clarity it brought really drove our purpose and opened up a big window for us to grow our why and develop why we’re here. It brought it back to life a little bit and allowed us to set the tone for where we were going. ”
Cassandra Wilsey
Principal, Desert Valley School, Bullhead City, AZ
A Model of Instruction That Makes Deeper Learning Possible—for ALL Students
Our Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning does not assume students already have self-regulation, impulse control, and other skills to work in student-led teams. Instead, we build those skills by:
- Establishing classroom routines that students and teachers can quickly master for self-managed learning teams and respectful collaboration.
- Using a progression of student skills to advance all students up to higher levels of critical thinking and self-direction over time.
We equip teachers with step-by-step guidance—combining professional learning, coaching, and student resources—to transition from traditional instruction to student-led, highly engaging learning environments.
Our partners have successfully implemented this model regardless of the affluence or poverty level of the communities the school serves.
Years of longitudinal research studies show that learning gains accelerate for all students including:
Shifting to this model of instruction leads to stronger engagement, better behavior, and higher academic achievement for ALL students.
Listen to a district’s experience of adopting the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning, where students work in academic teams. Video Credit: School District U-46, IL.
Listen as students collaborate to implement the structures needed to engage in rigorous learning.
Build Momentum with Leadership Routines for Rapid School Improvement
We embed simple, powerful leadership routines—like daily stand-ups and action boards—to help your team stay aligned, act quickly, and address root causes, not just symptoms.
Our coaches guide leaders to:
- Focus on What Matters: Align daily actions with your instructional vision.
- Accelerate Progress: Use rapid cycles to build momentum through early wins.
- Build Habits That Stick: Strengthen leadership through consistent routines and accountability.
The result? Faster implementation, fewer fires, and proactive leadership that keeps your school moving forward.
A school leadership team discusses their progress using a daily stand-up process and action board.
Research-Validated Tools to Measure What’s Working—Before Test Scores Arrive
Every step of our school improvement partnerships is guided by real-time data that is proven to accurately predict student achievement—no more waiting and hoping.
Developed by the Applied Research Center, these research-validated tools are exclusive to Instructional Empowerment. Through our partnership, you’ll gain access to:
- RigorWalkTM: The nation’s most research-validated classroom walkthrough tool. RigorWalk gives leaders a real-time view of instructional quality and rigor—without evaluating teachers or adding student tests. The data you gather in just 5 to 10 minutes per classroom surfaces strengths, identifies needs, and informs immediate action.
- Rigor Appraisal: Conducted quarterly by our certified scorers, this tool provides an objective checkpoint to confirm trends from RigorWalk. It is scientifically correlated with both benchmark and state assessment learning gains.
This industry-leading data empowers leaders to make informed decisions early—so they can target support and ensure consistent, rigorous instruction across classrooms.
Our real-time metrics have a statistically significant correlation to:
Higher ELA learning rates
Higher math learning rates
Higher student attendance
Lower behavior referrals
Lower suspension rates
The result? You’ll act sooner, lead smarter, and support your staff and students more effectively—long before test results roll in.
Monthly Progress Monitoring for Shared Accountability
Every quarter, school leaders and their Instructional Empowerment coach present progress to the district’s Executive Action Team. This decision-making team ensures impediments are removed and serves as the driver of implementation success. Consistent cycles between the school and district teams build alignment, ownership, and the momentum needed for lasting school improvement.
These meetings are not about compliance, they’re about reciprocal accountability, giving teams the opportunity to share data transparently, celebrate wins, troubleshoot barriers, and align next steps.
- Benefits for District Leaders: Provides system-level insight, strengthens alignment, and reinforces accountability across schools.
- Benefits for School Leaders: Keeps goals visible and actionable, reduces initiative fatigue, and ensures timely support to overcome roadblocks.
“The Executive Action Team meetings give us the opportunity to look at sustainability, building capacity, and leveraging resources rather than quick fixes. The new tools that our leaders are learning with Instructional Empowerment have truly impacted the systems and quality of instruction in our buildings. ”
Brandon White
Former Assistant Superintendent of Academics South Bend, IN
Side-by-Side Coaching from Leaders Who’ve Been There
All of our coaches are former school and district leaders who’ve faced—and overcome—the same school improvement challenges you’re navigating.
They don’t just visit; they become part of your school community, working shoulder-to-shoulder with your team to build the systems that drive lasting results.
What sets our coaching apart:
- Proven Experience: Every coach has successfully led school turnaround efforts—not just studied the theory.
- Tailored Match: We hand-select your coach based on your school’s goals, needs, and context.
- Real Relationships, Real Results: We build trust with your staff and leadership to strengthen what’s working and address what’s not.
“Our partnership with Instructional Empowerment has been really empowering. We have a faculty coach and a leadership coach. This experience has been incredibly powerful because it’s boots on the ground with us. It’s someone to work alongside you every step of the way. They’re there. They’re embedded in the school with you.”
Cristina Smith
Principal, Warfield Elementary, Indiantown, FL
Schedule a Consultation with Subject Matter Experts Today
Meet with our expert career educators (not salespeople) who will explain school improvement partnerships and share best practices, with no obligation.
