Curriculum, instruction, and assessment focused on deeper learning develop students’ abilities to think critically and solve complex problems, communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and learn independently.
Findings from the science of learning and development contain powerful lessons for improving education to help every student access opportunities and reach their full potential.
A whole child education prioritizes the full scope of a child’s developmental needs to advance equity and ensure that every child reaches their fullest potential.
Students need to develop social, emotional, and academic competencies to succeed in life. School programs that foster social and emotional learning are associated with positive outcomes for attitudes, achievement, and educational attainment.
Effective systems of accountability and continuous improvement support schools and districts in assessing progress, identifying needs, and overcoming barriers to teaching and learning.
Inclusive, well-resourced, high-quality schools that ensure all children have opportunities to learn and thrive are necessary to overcome historical and contemporary social and educational inequities.
Teacher turnover and shortages hurt student outcomes and well-being. Research identifies a number of evidence-based strategies to recruit and retain a diverse, high-quality teacher workforce.
Community schools are an evidence-based strategy to advance equity and reduce barriers to learning by providing the services needed to support student and family well-being.
Many states, districts, and schools are seeking to expand instruction to support higher-order thinking skills and are developing authentic performance assessments that measure student mastery on a deeper level.
