Academic Achievement Archives

Four elementary students sit at desks together engaged in academic rigor as they explain math problems to one another and debate and discuss the solutions.

All Audiences

The Ultimate Guide to Academic Rigor

What does academic rigor look like, why is it important, and how do we use…

instructionalempowermentSeptember 29, 2025

District Leaders School Leaders

The Turnaround Trap: Why Quick Fixes Fail Students

Original research and insights to build the systems for school improvement.

instructionalempowermentSeptember 25, 2025

Two elementary students sit on the classroom floor with their books open, writing on a collaborative Summarizing Mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning designed for to improve academic achievement and student growth through student skill development.

School Leaders Teachers

The Overlooked Skills That Power Academic Achievement and Student Growth

The truth is, you can’t reach rigorous academic outcomes without also developing all the skills…

instructionalempowermentJuly 25, 2025

All Audiences

[Peer-Reviewed Research] Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools

Can professional development and coaching turn chronically low-performing schools around?

instructionalempowermentJuly 4, 2025

All Audiences

[Peer-Reviewed Research] The Role of Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Perceived Support of Students’ Basic Psychological Needs in Academic Achievement

How self-efficacy, motivation, and perceived support boosts academic achievement.

instructionalempowermentJuly 4, 2025

Elementary students writing on a Summarizing Mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning as they engage in team learning.

All Audiences

How Willard Elementary Climbed to #2 in ELA Growth and #9 in Math Among Illinois K–6 Schools

Case study: Willard Elementary improved achievement and student outcomes using Instructional Empowerment’s Model of Instruction…

instructionalempowermentJune 25, 2025

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.

School Leaders District 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

Academic Achievement

The Ultimate Guide to Academic Rigor

The Turnaround Trap: Why Quick Fixes Fail Students

The Overlooked Skills That Power Academic Achievement and Student Growth

[Peer-Reviewed Research] Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools

[Peer-Reviewed Research] The Role of Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Perceived Support of Students’ Basic Psychological Needs in Academic Achievement

How Willard Elementary Climbed to #2 in ELA Growth and #9 in Math Among Illinois K–6 Schools

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

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