School District Administrators Resources Menu

Educators cannot lead what they do not understand. Explore curated resources and tools to support your planning, thinking, and implementation of research-based practices as an instructional leader. These resources will support you on your journey of growth, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to plan for measurable and sustainable instructional transformation.

Literacy

Reading Reform Across America: A Survey of State Legislation: This report, by the Albert Shanker Institute, examined reading reform policies in many states.

Science of Reading Defining Guide: The Reading League’s “Science of Reading: Defining Guide” eBook provides a comprehensive definition of the science of reading, clarifying what it encompasses and what it does not. It aims to help educators, parents, and policymakers understand and apply evidence-based reading instruction effectively.

ExcelinEd Annual Report: ExcelinEd supports leaders in transforming education to unlock opportunity and lifelong success for each and every child.

Transforming Reading Instruction to Include the Science of Reading: A panel of educators and experts who have firsthand experience with the process of transforming reading instruction discuss the transformation process as well as the lessons they’ve learned. The panelists note the importance of establishing structures and systems that support the transformation process, and engaging classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators in developing a comprehensive and cohesive approach.

Leadership and the Science of Reading: An Honest Look at the Joys and Challenges of School Transformation: Hear from school leaders and agents of change about their experiences in transforming school literacy systems and curricula. As thought leaders from the field pose questions relating to the journey, school leaders each discuss aspects of the shifts in instructional practices within their schools and districts and the positive results they have seen.

Getting Reading Right is Messy: No One Has It All Figured Out: This blog post discusses raising student achievement despite current dysfunctions of an educational system.

ExcelinEd Early Literacy: This powerful website provides policy examples useful by districts and states to improve early literacy.

ExcelinED Comprehensive K–3 Reading Policy Toolkit: This toolkit has been updated and is useful to create a comprehensive policy that ensures early identification of struggling readers and establishes intensive reading intervention for K–3 students who need more support to become successful readers.

Nashville’s Hidden Crisis: This report by Nashville P.R.O.P.E.L. provides findings and recommendations while demonstrating how parents and families can spur reading improvement.

The National Center on Improving Literacy: This center developed and sustained by experts, provides a wealth of resources to support districts and schools with reliable resources and information.

Similar Students, Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better?: This large-scale study reveals the characteristics and practices of schools that achieve strong results as compared to similar schools that did not.

Similar English Learner Students and Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better?: This report, a companion to the above report, documents findings from successful schools with large populations of multilingual learners.

Iowa Reading Center Making the Change: One District’s Science of Reading Journey: The Spencer Community School District transitioned from a balanced literacy approach to a science-of-reading-aligned curriculum after observing persistently low reading scores, which worsened post-pandemic. The district’s comprehensive approach, including universal implementation and teacher involvement, has led to notable improvements in student reading proficiency.

Emergent Literacy: Supporting Learners Birth through Kindergarten Entry: This resource provides early childhood educators with evidence-based practices to enhance language and literacy development in young children.

Early and Conventional Literacy: Supporting Learners in Kindergarten–Grade 5: This resource offers a comprehensive guide for school leaders to implement evidence-based literacy practices for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It emphasizes four key actions: Shared Leadership, Effective Literacy Instruction, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and Tiered Systems of Instructional Support, providing tools and resources to support each component.

Adolescent Literacy: Supporting Learners in Grades 6–12: This resource provides a comprehensive implementation guide for school leaders to enhance literacy outcomes in grades 6–12. It emphasizes four key actions: Shared Leadership, Effective Literacy Instruction, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and Tiered Systems of Instructional Support, offering tools and resources to support each component.

The Reading League on Adolescent Literacy: This site offers educators and stakeholders evidence-based guidance and resources to support adolescent readers. It emphasizes the importance of implementing comprehensive, school-wide interventions across all tiers of instruction to address challenges such as inadequate foundational skills and limited exposure to complex texts.

Literacy in Action: This site offers a curated collection of free, evidence-based resources aligned with the Science of Reading to support educators, board members, and parents in enhancing literacy instruction. These resources include instructional materials, decodable texts, sound wall guides, professional development videos, and bilingual tools, all aimed at improving reading outcomes for students.

Reading Universe (led by Kelly Butler): This website provides a wealth of resources to support research-based practices for improving literacy.

Reading Rockets: Louisa Moats article, Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science, is featured here along with great videos from Linda Farrell, Anita Archer, and many others.

Improving Literacy: Four Guidance Reports from the Education Endowment Foundation provide recommendations for improving language, reading, and writing for three to five year olds, five to seven year olds, seven to eleven year olds, and for secondary students.

Colorín Colorado: Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). While this site is geared toward bilingualism, those are our students too! Putting the needs of multilingual students at the center of change management positions your system to impact every student regardless of language variety.

Read Charlotte Listening Comprehension Resource Center This site provides support to help educators develop strong listening comprehension skills during, and beyond, the early elementary grades will support students’ reading comprehension ability.

Math

ExcelinEd Math Policy: This resource includes specific language for fundamental principles for math policies for districts and states.

Science of Math Website: This website, developed by researchers, math educators, and university psychologists, is a movement to pull together the use of objective evidence about how students learn math so leaders can learn to make informed decisions.

Chalk & Talk: This podcast series led by Dr. Anna Stokke, a Canadian mathematics professor, brings together the voices of prominent educators who understand effective math instruction and debunk misunderstandings that are currently swirling around math instruction.

Designing Mathematics Standards in Agreement with Science: This report pulls together what is known about how instruction in math has veered from what is actually effective. Scientists who study the brain explain why the deemphasis on memorization has taken our students in the wrong direction.

Mathematics Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities or Difficulty Learning Mathematics: A Synthesis of the Intervention Research: This 2008 synthesis of research on math interventions for students with learning difficulties is by the same group of authors as the 2009 meta-analysis in Review of Educational Research but is more oriented toward an audience of practitioners.

Archimedes Math Standards PreK-12: A comprehensive set of model preK-12 mathematics standards designed to restore academic rigor, intellectual honesty, and instructional clarity to America’s classrooms. Released June 2025.

Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel: This report published in 2008 was commissioned by then President Bush and operated in the same manner as the National Reading Panel from 2000. The report was the result of analysis of research for teaching mathematics and brought together cognitive scientists, mathematicians, math educators and practitioners to review and synthesize findings from scientific research. The key findings included the need for a coherent progression with the emphasis on proficiency, particularly automaticity with math facts and automatic execution of standard algorithms leading to a clear concept of school algebra with identification of major topics.  Sadly, the findings were not implemented, despite the fact that they are aligned to research and grounded in cognitive science.

Behavioral Wellness

Teacher-Delivered Behavioral Interventions in Grades K–5: This IES Practice guide provides educators with seven recommendations for implementing low-intensity behavioral interventions in grade K–5 classrooms to support students in demonstrating expected behaviors in the classroom so that students and their classmates can engage in learning.

Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Support Learning Environments (2024): This new guide from the U.S. DOE Office of Special Education provides an understanding for leaders about how to use functional behavioral assessments, what they are, and how they will contribute to a supportive learning environment.

Improving Behavior in School: This guidance report by the Education Endowment Foundation in the UK supports senior leaders in primary and secondary schools to make better-informed decisions about their behavior strategies. It includes a number of practical examples of programs and approaches that should be helpful in schools and classrooms where behavior is generally good as where there are problems.

Classroom Management Resources: User Guide: This website from the Australian Education Research Organisation introduces a suite of resources that are useful for beginning teachers, including practice guides and resources.

Positive Classroom Management Strategies: Eight evidence-informed practices that create safer, more purposeful learning environments supporting student learning, wellbeing and behavior.

Science of Learning/Cognitive Science

Deans for Impact — Science of Early Learning: “The Science of Early Learning” explores how children aged birth to eight develop agency, literacy, and numeracy skills. It identifies key learning principles, connects them to practical teaching strategies, and highlights the interdependence of these domains. The document emphasizes the role of emotionally supportive environments, structured learning opportunities, and tailored interventions, especially for diverse learners, as the foundation for developing self-regulation, reading, writing, and mathematical abilities.

Deans for Impact — Science of Learning: This guide pulls together research from cognitive science about how learning happens and connects it to practical implications for educators.

Retrieval Practice: This website, developed by cognitive scientists, pulls together invaluable resources for ensuring educators have tools to improve practice (spaced, cumulative and retrieval practice) to enable mastery of initial learning and retention of learning.

Think Forward: This website from Australia is a community of educators committed to improving education through the science of learning.

Inner Drive: This website, based in the UK, has been illuminating cognitive science and its contributions to effective teaching and learning. They include a summary of four of Dr. Paul Kirschner’s important influential studies especially contrasting explicit instruction and types of minimally guided instruction.

Articles & Multimedia:

Lyon, A. R., Corbin, C. M., Brown, E. C., Ehrhart, M. G., Locke, J., Davis, C., Picozzi, E., Aarons, G. A., & Cook, C. R. (2022). Leading the charge in the education sector: Development and validation of the School Implementation Leadership Scale (SILS). Implementation Science, 17(48). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-022-01222-7

The Education of Roy Romer: This article from Education Week details how Roy Romer, a former Colorado governor, took on the role of superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District at age 71. Despite his non-traditional background, Romer implemented district-wide instructional programs, deployed numerous teaching coaches, and initiated the construction of 160 new schools to enhance educational outcomes.

Hopeville Pitch: “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars” is an eye-opening, empowering documentary that serves as a rallying cry for change.

The Right to Read Trailer: “The Right to Read” is a 2023 documentary directed by Jenny Mackenzie and produced by LeVar Burton. The film follows Oakland NAACP activist Kareem Weaver, first-grade teacher Sabrina Causey, and two American families as they advocate for science-based reading instruction to address the literacy crisis in the United States. The documentary highlights the struggles and successes of implementing effective reading programs, emphasizing literacy as a fundamental civil right essential for lifelong success.

The Truth About Reading Trailer: “The Truth About Reading” looks at the illiteracy problem in America, highlighting people who learned to read as adults, and sharing proposed solutions for working towards a future
where every child learns to read proficiently.

Systems produce exactly what they are designed to produce. Research-based practices must be coupled with the science of change management and implementation science to move the needle of student achievement on your watch. Peruse resources that will help you maximize the variables you can influence in your educational ecosystem. Learn from the experiences of expert leaders on how to administer a viable change management process leading to the successful implementation of proven practices.

Evidence Advocacy Center Implementation Guide — District & School: EAC has developed Implementation Guides to support the use of research- based practices (RBRs) throughout the education system. Specifically, the guides provide step-by-step guidance on the key actions needed and how to identify the conditions and supports that are in place for the effective use of the RBRs.

A School’s Guide to Implementation: This report from the Education Endowment Foundation in the UK provides added guidance to the EAC’s Implementation Guide to select and embed evidence-informed approaches in line with their vision for improvement.

National Implementation Research Network (NIRN): A multidisciplinary team with the mission to contribute to the best practices and science of implementation, organization change, and system reinvention to improve outcomes across the spectrum of human services.

District Capacity Assessment (DCA): This resource, developed by the National Implementation Resource Network, enables district leaders and staff to assess the training, coaching, policy, and organizational elements of a school district that affect the capacity to adopt and sustain academic and behavioral innovations, to better align resources with intended outcomes, develop action plans to build the necessary infrastructure for successful implementation, and support the use of effective innovations. Both the training and tool are available online.

Science of Reading Implementation Briefs from North Carolina: North Carolina has made historic gains in reading. These briefs guide a district through what it takes beyond training.

Introduction to the District Capacity Assessment Supports for Schools and Teachers: This brief explains the use and purpose of the DCA to guide action planning within a school district.

Act on Evidence Toolkit: This toolkit, developed by EdResearch for Action, is designed primarily for school and district leaders to understand the most critical components of effective, evidence-based strategies. This toolkit can be used at any point of the school year to support planning, implementation, and continuous improvement:

• Leaders who are planning to roll out new initiatives to support students can leverage each tool’s rubric for specific examples of how to design those initiatives in alignment with evidence around what works and planning template for mapping out specific actions related to top priorities.
• Throughout implementation, leaders can use the tools to reflect and revise plans based on the alignment between how programs are currently being executed and how research suggests they should be in order to achieve maximum impact for students.

The Reading League Compass: The Reading League Compass provides reliable and understandable guidance aligned with scientific guidance for a variety of targeted stakeholders.

Improving Teaching and Learning System-Wide: Ten Essential Actions: Suzanne Donovan, Paul Cobb, and Kara Jackson present ten essential actions essential to system-wide improvement in teaching and learning.

CORE District Literacy Implementation Rubric: This tool is designed to assist educators and administrators in effectively implementing a research-based English/Language Arts instructional program. It provides criteria aligned with national literacy standards and offers a continuous improvement framework to support and enhance literacy instruction across districts and schools.

Literacy Change Management Playbook: This resource created by Amplify assists districts and schools to navigate and sustain change and improvement when implementing a science of reading-aligned curriculum.

Ceedar Center — University of Florida, Evidence-Based Writing Instruction: This Center provides resources, tools and course ideas for implementing effective writing instruction.

SERP Internal Coherence Protocol — Used to foster internal coherence in school organizations: This framework is designed to help schools function as coherent organizations with the conditions necessary to create continuous improvement.

CORE District Math Implementation Rubric: This tool is designed to help educators and administrators effectively implement research-based mathematics instructional programs. Aligned with national standards, it provides criteria for assessing and guiding the implementation process to enhance student achievement in mathematics.

National P–3 Center: The National P–3 Center uses three core strategies to achieve their mission: providing leadership and professional learning opportunities, offering support and resources to guide effective implementation of policy and practice, and engaging in innovative research and evaluation efforts.

Literacy Implementation Rubric for English Learners: The rubric is designed to evaluate and enhance the fidelity of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework for English Learners (ELs). It provides criteria across key components such as assessments, instruction, decision-making processes, and professional development, aiming to improve literacy outcomes through culturally and linguistically responsive practices. (Adapted from Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports. (2021). Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) fidelity of implementation rubric. American Institutes for Research. Project LEE, Project ELLIPSES, & Project ELITE². (2021). Multitiered system of supports for English learners: Literacy implementation rubric. U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.)

Integrating Improvement and Implementation Science to Enhance Educational Outcomes: This brief compares implementation science and improvement science, illustrating how their core principles can be combined to improve student outcomes and school efficiency. It provides examples of effective integration within State Education Agencies and explains how these sciences can be utilized together in school settings to enhance implementation capacity and conditions.

Planning and Evaluation Tool for Effective Schoolwide Reading Programs — Revised (PET-R): This is a benchmarking tool designed to assess and enhance the implementation of schoolwide reading programs. It evaluates key components such as goals, assessments, instructional practices, time allocation, grouping, leadership, and professional development, providing a scoring system to identify strengths and areas for improvement in fostering effective reading instruction.

Idaho’s Adaptation of PET-R: The PET-R Action Planning Tool provides a structured framework for schools to evaluate and plan the implementation of effective schoolwide reading programs. It includes actionable goals and criteria across key areas such as assessment, instructional materials, instructional time, differentiated instruction, administration, and professional development to guide improvement and ensure fidelity in reading instruction.

State Information and Scaling Up of Evidence-Based Practices (SISEP): District Capacity Assessment: The District Capacity Assessment (DCA) is an action-oriented tool designed to assist educational district leaders and staff in aligning resources with desired outcomes and developing action plans to support the implementation of effective innovations. Administered by trained personnel, the DCA involves a team of district staff selected for their implementation knowledge, experience with the specific innovation, and leadership roles within the district.

FCRR School Leaders Literacy Walkthrough Tools: The School Leader’s Literacy Walkthrough tools, developed by the Florida Center for Reading Research, are designed to assist school leaders in grades K–12 in supporting classroom literacy instruction aligned with Florida’s B.E.S.T. English Language Arts Standards. These tools facilitate brief, non-evaluative walkthroughs focusing on specific literacy components, providing structured frameworks for observing and enhancing instructional practices.

Explicit Instruction Observation Sheet: (School Cubed). A tool for observing teachers and classrooms, focusing on evidence of explicit reading instruction. Available at the Schools Cubed free resources website.

Tools for Supporting, Planning, and Delivering Great Instruction: Instruction Partners offers a suite of free tools and resources designed to support educational leaders in enhancing teaching and student learning. These include guides for selecting and implementing high-quality curricula, classroom observation tools, and resources for professional learning and early literacy development.

Technical Guide for Alignment of Initiatives, Programs and Practices in School Districts: This document describes the process for aligning academic and behavioral initiatives at the district level. A main message is that the organizational features needed for effective adoption of both academic and behavior support practices are similar.

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool: The Hexagon Discussion and Analysis Tool helps teams at schools and school districts to evaluate new and existing programs and practices. The tool guides teams to assess (a) need for a program/practice, (b) evidence supporting the program/practice, (c) fit with existing policies and systems, (d) usability, (e) capacity of the school or district to adopt the new program/practice, and (f) needed supports for effective adoption.

Scaling-up Brief: Scaling Up Evidence-Based Practices in Education: The purpose of this Brief is to provide a framework that state leadership teams and others can use to develop the capacity to make effective, statewide, and sustained use of evidence‐based practices and other innovations.

Effective Practice Implementation: The Australian Education Research Organisation developed a series of resources to help school leaders take a deliberate and structured approach to implementing evidence-based teaching strategies.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports Resources

MTSS for Success: This site serves as a comprehensive resource hub for implementing the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. It provides guidance on the essential components of MTSS, including data-driven decision-making, screening, progress monitoring, and multi-level prevention systems, while offering tools for planning, executing, and sustaining the framework. The site supports educators and administrators in creating equitable and effective strategies to enhance academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for all students.

Broward County Public Schools MTSS Implementation Guide: This document outlines Broward County Public Schools’ approach to implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This framework integrates academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions to meet diverse student needs through data-based problem-solving, a three-tiered intervention model, and consistent progress monitoring. It emphasizes early intervention, fidelity of implementation, and collaboration among educators, families, and community members to ensure equitable educational outcomes for all students.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools MTSS Manual: This document outlines the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework implemented by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. It details the evidence-based strategies for academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support through a tiered system, addressing individual student needs with increasing intensity. The guide provides tools, processes, and monitoring strategies to ensure fidelity in implementation, ultimately aiming to improve educational outcomes and equitable opportunities for all students.

California MTSS: The California Department of Education defines the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) as an integrated, comprehensive framework that emphasizes the alignment of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning to meet the needs of all students. MTSS focuses on core instruction, differentiated learning, student-centered approaches, and the coordination of resources and services to ensure every student’s success.

Alabama MTSS: The Alabama Multi-Tiered System of Supports (AL-MTSS) guidance provides a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and wellness needs of all students. It emphasizes proactive, data-driven, and team-based approaches to ensure equitable access to evidence-based practices and tiered supports, aligning with the state’s goal of improving outcomes for every child, every chance, every day.

Intensive Intervention — Intensifying Literacy Instruction: This site provides educators with evidence-based strategies to enhance literacy instruction for students facing persistent reading and writing challenges. Key practices include understanding learning progressions, implementing evidence-based interventions, ongoing data-driven decision-making, adapting instruction to increase intensity, and establishing supportive infrastructures.

Intensive Intervention & MTSS: This resource section from the National Center on Intensive Instruction shares tools and resources related to the relationship between intensive intervention and multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS).

I–MTSS Research Network: The Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (I–MTSS) Research Network, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, examines frameworks that integrate academic and behavioral support within elementary schools. I–MTSS is defined as a comprehensive and equitable prevention framework aimed at improving outcomes for all students, including those with or at risk for disabilities, through integrated academic and behavioral support.

Data-Based Individualization for Literacy, Math, or Behavior: This resource from the National Center on Intensive Intervention provides information on Data-Based Individualization which is a research-based process for individualizing and intensifying interventions through the systematic use of assessment data, validated interventions, and research-based adaptation strategies. DBI is a process, not a specific program or product.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and the Importance of Promoting Student Well-being: This fact sheet emphasizes the importance of using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to address the rising mental health challenges among students. It details the three-tiered structure for promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health, highlights evidence-based practices for implementation, and underscores the role of leadership, data, equity, and professional development in fostering student well-being and academic success.

Integrated MTSS Fidelity Rubric (IMFR): The Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Fidelity Rubric (IMFR) is a tool created to assess an elementary school’s implementation of Integrated Multi-tiered Systems of Support (I-MTSS). I-MTSS is a model where academic and social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) supports are strategically combined to improve students’ academic (e.g., reading and/or math) and SEB outcomes.

Fiscal Guidance for Implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): This document provides Michigan school districts with guidance on how to coordinate the use of state and federal funds to support the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

PBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI): The purpose of the PBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) is to provide a valid, reliable, and efficient measure of the extent to which school personnel are applying the core features of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).

PBIS District Systems Fidelity Inventory (DSFI): The purpose of the District Systems Fidelity Inventory (DSFI) is to guide District Leadership Teams in the assessment, development, and execution of action plans that promote the capacity for sustainable, culturally and contextually relevant, and high-fidelity implementation of multi-tiered social, emotional, and behavioral systems of support and practices. The DSFI and process have been designed to serve as a guide for initial action planning, progress monitoring and annual evaluation of fidelity of implementation and impact.

Blueprint for guiding implementation of PBIS: The Implementation Blueprint is designed for school teams, District/Regional teams, and/or State teams that are planning and acting to implement PBIS. This 68-page brief outlines the steps and process for adopting PBIS.

Articles, Case Studies, Pilots:

Changing Course: Large Scale Implementation of the Science of Reading: Five Action Steps for School and District Leaders Implementing the Science of Reading, Dena Mortensen: This article discusses the important role of district leadership to create the conditions, provide the professional learning and support and the curriculum resources necessary to implement and sustain effective reading instruction.

What to Improve Children’s Writing: Don’t Neglect Handwriting, Dr. Steve Graham: In this article Dr. Steve Graham points out the importance of handwriting to improve overall writing ability of students.

Handwriting in a Modern World: Why It Matters & What To Do About It, William Van Cleave: In this compelling article by the late William Van Cleave, he summarizes much of the research on handwriting, and the fact that it improves both reading and writing. It also contains practical recommendations to support correct grip, paper position, and letter formation.

Structured Literacy Approaches to Teaching Written Expression, Haynes, Lambrecht Smith, Laud: This 2019 article provides specific strategies with actual lesson examples focused on word-level, sentence-level, and paragraph-level instruction.

Riverside Elementary Case Study | Ohio Department of Education: The Riverside Elementary Case Study details how Riverside Local Schools in Ohio implemented evidence-based literacy instruction, resulting in a significant increase in third-grade English Language Arts proficiency from 50% in 2016 to 91% in 2019. Key strategies included adopting a research-based literacy curriculum, providing professional development on the science of reading, fostering collaboration among educators, and utilizing data-driven decision-making to tailor interventions.

Shifting Early Literacy Practices: The Story of an Early Reading Pilot in San Antonio Independent School District: This report documents the Early Reading Accelerators (ERA) pilot program in San Antonio ISD, which aimed to improve K–2 literacy outcomes through foundational skills and read-aloud strategies. It highlights key practices like culturally sustaining pedagogy, professional development, and collaboration across monolingual and dual-language programs, offering insights and best practices for districts seeking to enhance literacy instruction system-wide.

How Words Cast Their Spell, by R. Malatesha Joshi, Rebecca Treiman, Suzanne Carreker and Louisa C. Moats: This article explains how spelling affects language development, reading, vocabulary development as well as writing.

Rethinking How to Promote Reading Comprehension, Hugh W. Catts: This article explains the complex factors that affect reading comprehension (attention, memory, reasoning, language skills, motivation, interest). Dr. Catts Addresses ways to build knowledge, vital to improving comprehension, without sacrificing the teaching of decoding and other basic skills but instead doing both.

Differentiating Comprehension from the Components of Reading, Hugh W. Catts, Alan G. Kamhi: In this compelling article the authors propose a rethinking of the reading model, separating the word recognition and fluency components from comprehension and treating comprehension, not as a skill, but as multi-faceted and more importantly connected to disciplines that build knowledge.

Sugai, G., & Horner, R., Sustaining and Scaling Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Implementation Drivers, Outcomes, and Considerations. (2020) Exceptional Children Vol. 86(2) 120– 136 © The Author(s) 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0014402919855331. This journal article describes the 25- year history of the PBIS implementation experience, including the core features of PBIS as a multitiered framework and the process and outcomes for implementing PBIS across over 26,000 schools in the United States.

Fleming, J. Grasley-Boy, N., Gage, N., Lombardo, M., & Anderson, L. (2024). Effects of Tiered SWPBIS Fidelity on Exclusionary Discipline Outcomes for Students With Disabilities: A Conceptual Replication. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Vol. 26(1) 3–13 © Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2023 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/10983007231193173. This journal article describes a series of two-level linear multilevel analyses to examine the impact of SWPBIS fidelity on 10 exclusionary discipline outcomes for students with disabilities (SWD). Specifically, they compared schools that implemented multiple SWPBIS tiers with fidelity to schools that only implemented Tier 1 with fidelity from a sample of 558 schools in 113 districts in California. Findings indicate a statistically significant decrease in multiple out-of-school suspension categories as well as referrals to law enforcement for SWD in schools that implemented all tiers with fidelity.

Horner, R., Sugai, G., & Fixsen, D., (2017). Implementing Effective Educational Practices at Scales of Social Importance. Clinical Child and Family Psychological Review 20:25–35 DOI 10.1007/s10567-017-0224-7. In this journal article the authors describe lessons learned about scaling up evidence-based practices gleaned from experience implementing school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) across more than 23,000 schools in the USA.

Horner R., Ward, C., Fixsen., et al., (2019). Resource Leveraging to Achieve Large-Scale Implementation of Effective Educational Practices. Journal of Positive Behavioral Interventions 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300718783754. This article proposes that a central element in the large-scale implementation of evidence-based practices is the process by which initial investment in local demonstrations is leveraged into larger implementation efforts. Steps to move from successful demonstrations to large scale implementation are offered.

Professional learning is essential to build knowledge and high-quality instructional practices. As leaders, you will gain insight on how professional learning can be implemented in concert with coaching so that teachers are apprenticed to succeed at translating evidence to practice and close the knowing/doing gap. Gain insights to plan for professional learning that translates to classroom practices, building the expertise of teachers, and the success of your students so they are literate for life.

Features of Explicit Instruction Course Modules applicable to Math and Literacy: This resource from the National Center on Intensive Intervention applies to literacy and math. The modules are free and exemplary.

Professional Learning Modules for New Educators: These modules developed by the Ambition Institute in Australia, complete with videos, address all aspects of a new teacher’s world: behavior, instruction, curriculum, student wellbeing, early literacy. It is joined by other Australian institutions that prepare training for early career educators.

Personal Best by Atul Gawande: An important starting point for all coaching. Everybody deserves a coach!

Fundamentals of Literacy Coaching (Course by ExcelinEd): This free resource is intended to be used by state and district leaders who are responsible for building the capacity for a cadre of literacy coaches.

Neuhaus Academy:  Neuhaus Academy offers free, web-based vocabulary lessons designed to help middle school, high school, and adult learners improve reading, spelling, and comprehension skills. These courses can be taken individually or as part of a curriculum assigned by instructors, who have the ability to customize lessons and monitor student progress.

10 Key Mathematics Practices for All Elementary Schools: This 2017 resource from the Meadows Center summarizes 10 evidence-based practices for improving the math achievement of all students.

Deans for Impact: A Promising Future for Math Instruction: This resource links to instructional modules for novice and early-career educators to support the use of evidence-based practices in mathematics.

Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia: The Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, located at Middle Tennessee State University, is dedicated to promoting understanding of dyslexia and removing obstacles to reading and writing for children with dyslexia. The Center achieves this by conducting and translating research, preparing educators to identify and support students with dyslexia, and offering evaluations and individualized instructional recommendations to students and their families.

University of Florida Literacy Institute: The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) is dedicated to enhancing literacy outcomes for children by focusing on teacher development and reader development. They offer academic programs, professional learning opportunities, and resources designed to equip educators with effective reading instruction strategies.

Cox Campus: Cox Campus is a free, interactive online platform dedicated to eradicating illiteracy by providing educators, families, and community leaders with science-based courses and resources on language and literacy development for children from birth to age nine. Founded by the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, a program of the Atlanta Speech School, it offers accredited professional training, practical tools, and a supportive community to empower adults in fostering children’s reading and writing skills.

Instruction Partners Collaborative Planning Action Plan: This tool is designed to help schools assess and enhance their collaborative planning practices among teachers. It focuses on three key areas: unit internalization, lesson preparation, and student work analysis. By evaluating conditions such as a clear vision, dedicated meeting times, effective protocols, defined roles, facilitator training, staff investment, and affirming interactions, schools can identify strengths and areas for improvement to foster effective professional learning communities.

Instruction Partners Observation and Feedback Action Plan: This tool is designed to help schools assess and enhance their observation and feedback practices. It focuses on two key areas: ongoing feedback cycles and instructional rounds. By evaluating conditions such as a clear vision, dedicated time, effective protocols, defined roles, observer training, staff investment, and affirming interactions, schools can identify strengths and areas for improvement to foster effective professional learning communities.

Early Literacy Observation and Protocol: This is a structured guide for school leaders to conduct effective classroom observations and provide actionable feedback to teachers. It outlines a six-step process: preparing for and completing the observation, analyzing observed strengths, probing for understanding, naming a high-leverage action step, planning implementation in upcoming lessons, practicing the action step, and planning follow-up. This protocol aims to enhance instructional practices and improve student outcomes in early literacy.

Writing Fundamentals:This set of resources provided by the Australian Education Research Organisation is designed for elementary and secondary educators to support explicit, evidence-based writing instruction in the classroom. A companion to this set of resources is the School Writing Instruction Framework designed to support school leaders and teachers to deliver evidence-based writing across all subjects and all grades.

Early Literacy Foundational Skills Instructional Modules: Deans for Impact has developed seven practice-based modules to equip future teachers with the skills to plan and deliver foundational literacy lessons rooted in scientific research on reading acquisition.

M.I.N.D. Measures & Interventions for Numeracy Development: This site has a wealth of resources for educators at all levels.

Institute for Education Sciences Practice Guides: These publications present recommendations for educators to address challenges in their classrooms and schools. They are based on reviews of research, the experiences of practitioners, and the expert opinions of a panel of nationally recognized experts.

• Preparing Young Children for School: Developed in conjunction with an expert panel, distills contemporary early childhood and preschool education research into seven easily comprehensible and practical recommendations. The guidance will help to prepare young children to benefit from the learning opportunities they will encounter in school.
• Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade: Developed in 2016, and updated in 2019, provides four recommendations for teaching foundational reading skills to students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common obstacles. This guide is a companion to the practice guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade.
• Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade: Recommends five specific steps that teachers, reading coaches, and principals can take to successfully improve reading comprehension for young readers.
• Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Grades 4–9: Provides four evidence-based recommendations that teachers can use to deliver reading interventions to meet the needs of their students.
• Teaching Math to Young Children: Provides five recommendations for teaching math to children in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks.
• Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade: Presents five recommendations intended to help educators improve students’ understanding of fractions. Recommendations include strategies to develop young children’s understanding of early fraction concepts and ideas for helping older children understand the meaning of fractions and the computations involved. The guide also highlights ways to build on students’ existing strategies to solve problems involving ratios, rates, and proportions.
• Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades: Provides evidence-based practices that can help teachers tailor their instructional approaches and/or their mathematics intervention programs to meet the needs of their students.
• Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 through 8: Developed in 2012, and updated in 2018, this focuses on evidence-based recommendations for teaching problem solving to students in the upper elementary and middle grades.
• Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students: Developed in 2015, and updated in 2019, provides three recommendations for teaching algebra to students in middle school and high school. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks.
• Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers: Provides four recommendations for improving elementary students’ writing. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks.
• Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively: Developed in 2016, and updated in 2019, this presents three evidence-based recommendations for helping students in grades 6–12 develop effective writing skills. The guide also summarizes and rates the evidence supporting each recommendation, describes examples to use in class, and offers the panel’s advice on how to overcome potential implementation obstacles.
• Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School: Provides four recommendations that address what works for English learners during reading and content area instruction. Each recommendation includes extensive examples of activities that can be used to support students as they build the language and literacy skills needed to be successful in school, including examples of how the recommendations align with Common Core and other contemporary state standards.
• Reducing Behavior Problems in Elementary Classrooms: Summarizes the research on reducing problem behavior in classrooms.

UFLI Resource Hub: This hub provides literacy resources for teachers and leaders as well as to share with parents.

Teaching for How Students Learn: Practice Guides: The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has developed a model of learning and teaching that identifies the most effective and efficient teaching practices aligned with how students learn. These practices are further described in their practice guides and demonstrated in their videos of practice.

Teaching for How Students Learn: Practice Guides: The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has developed a model of learning and teaching that identifies the most effective and efficient teaching practices aligned with how students learn. These practices are further described in our practice guides and demonstrated in our videos of practice.

Promoting Social and Behavioral Success for Learning in Elementary Schools: Practice Recommendations for Elementary School Educators, School and District Administrators, and Parents: This 171-page document summarizes empirical research assessing the core features of elementary schools that are effective at building social behavioral outcomes.

Podcasts:

A Podcast on Improving Math Facts Instruction: This podcast with Dr. Anna Stokke spotlights the importance of improving math facts instruction with specific methods.

Articles:

How to Support Teachers who are Adopting the Science of Reading (District Administration): This article emphasizes the importance of providing educators with professional development in evidence-based reading instruction methods. It highlights the need for comprehensive teacher preparation programs that focus on the science of reading to effectively address diverse student needs.

Evidence-based resources are more than tools with a convenient label. Gain the sophistication and insight to ensure the tools your educators select are evidence-based, cutting edge, and accelerate student achievement in your educational ecosystem. Gain understanding about resources that are NOT evidence-aligned and make strategic decisions about what to stop using in your system. You will also benefit from information to strategically and intentionally communicate with those you serve about why and how their talent, time, and available funding have been aligned with implementation science to gain commitment and buy-in.

Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries—What the Evidence Shows: This report from Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel highlights the evidence from across the world, multiple languages and cultures clearly pointing to the most effective practices.

2018 Final Leveraging Paper: This paper explores the concept of resource leveraging as a critical strategy for scaling evidence-based educational practices. It defines leveraging as the process of using initial investments to secure additional resources and emphasizes planning, measurement, and management to achieve sustainable, large-scale implementation of effective practices.

Literacy Reform Shanker Institute Full Report: This podcast is about red flags in education research, specifically, math.

Spark & Sustain: How all of the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale: Student achievement is stagnating globally, and millions of children are not learning, but meaningful change is possible by taking lessons from systems that are beating the odds.

Reading Reform Across America: A Survey of State Legislation: This report documents how state legislatures nationwide have responded to reading-related challenges and legislation enacted between 2019 and 2022.

State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices (SISEP) Center: The SISEP Center provides technical assistance to state and district education systems to implement and scale evidence-based practices, focusing on improving outcomes for students with disabilities. It offers resources, training, and tools to enhance implementation capacity, foster sustainability, and ensure equitable education.

State Teacher Certification: The report outlines state-by-state elementary teacher certification and licensure requirements in the science of reading, including training for current educators and administrators. It provides an evaluation of licensure tests, their alignment with scientifically based reading instruction (SBRI), and reciprocity standards for out-of-state teachers, highlighting efforts to strengthen implementation and improve teacher preparedness.

Education Evidence-Based Spending Guide: This guide assists state education agency and district leaders in utilizing evidence to achieve equitable outcomes through grant programs. It outlines six strategies to enhance grantmaking effectiveness, moving beyond compliance to support quality results while promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility goals.

Tier 1 Instructional Strategies to Improve K–4 Reading Comprehension: This brief emphasizes integrating science and social studies content into English Language Arts (ELA) instruction to enhance reading outcomes for young learners. It advocates for using aligned texts with overlapping concepts, providing teachers with structured flexibility in curriculum adaptations, and thoughtfully sequencing content from kindergarten through grade 4. Additionally, the brief highlights that tutoring programs and literacy coaching can further amplify the effectiveness of Tier I instruction.

Blueprint for a Universal Theory of Learning to Read: The Combinatorial Model: This new paper by Dr. David Share articulates some essential ingredients of a universal theory of reading instruction that recognizes commonalities but also recognizes and accounts for the global diversity of languages, writing systems and cultures.”

The Education Endowment Foundation: This organization is dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement by supporting schools, colleges, and early years settings to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence. They include resources and toolkit summarizing the best available research evidence and impact of specific practices.

Using Research Evidence: This page from the Education Endowment Foundation centered in the UK provides resources to help those working in education – within and outside of schools – with tools for accessing, critiquing, and applying evidence from research to practice. Downloads of guides are available.

Policy, Data, Research, and Development

Alliance for Learning and Innovation 2025 Policy and Agenda-State and Local Leaders: This resource helps educational leaders with learning about how states (and districts) can leverage education R&D to drive student outcomes.

ExcelinEd Policy Summaries and ExcelinEd Policy Playbook: These two resources provide guidance for establishing policies in all aspects necessary to transform education.

Teaching for How Students Learn: A model, developed by the Australian Education Research Organisation, underpinned by evidence on how students learn, to support teachers’ practice.

Live Handbook – An Initiative of Association of Education for Finance and Policy (AEFP): A digital hub for education policy research and informed decision-making.

• The Importance of Administrators and Leaders: A summary of research on the effects of school leaders, particularly principals with four key takeaways from the evidence. These highlights summarize the most critical and current knowledge regarding the importance of school leaders to school and student success.
• School Leader Pathways, Selection, and Hiring: Key findings related to a review of the evidence on pathways of aspiring leaders into school leadership and on school leader selection and hiring.
• Superintendents: Key findings related to a review of how superintendents influence performance and outcomes of school systems.

Articles:

Resource Leveraging to Achieve Large-Scale Implementation of Effective Educational Practices (Horner, et al.)

Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science / Moats

Right to Read Project – Lunch & Lit: These 60-minute sessions aim to bridge the research to practice divide by bringing scientists and practitioners. To view recordings and resources from previous seasons, visit the Lunch & Lit 2023–24 and 2024–25 archives.