Connected Professional Learning Case Studies

January 30, 2018

ERSstudied school systems and states with improving student outcomes to learn best practices for teacher professional learning. We observed that these organizations “connected” professional learning to what teachers do every day, and connected every part of the system into one coherent vision. We found that they invested in rigorous, comprehensive curricula and assessments; content-focused, expert-led collaboration; and frequent, growth-oriented feedback.

We call this approach “connected professional learning.” On the “Connected Professional Learning” page you can read more about how connected professional learning lights the learning engine for teachers and students; download resources for school systems, and take a diagnostic assessment. Here on this page, we dive deep into the stories of how school systems practice these principles.

Case Studies

	Rigorous, Comprehensive Curricula and Assessments in Louisiana Published February 2018 See how the Louisiana Department of Education is improving student and teacher learning through access to high-quality curricula—despite a combination of resource challenges.
	Finding Time for Collaborative Planning Published February 2018 Learn six strategies for finding enough time for meaningful collaborative planning among your teachers.
	Content-Focused, Expert-Led Collaboration at Achievement First Published June 2017 Get a detailed portrait of how the charter network Achievement First provides its teacher teams with the lesson materials, time, expert support, and teacher culture to embed professional learning in collaborative planning teams.
	Frequent, Growth-Oriented Feedback at DC Public Schools Published April 2017 Take a look at frequent, growth-oriented feedback at DC Public Schools, which is a key part of Learning together to Advance our Practice, or LEAP.