Schools in Six States To Study Impact of Rigorous Curriculum on School Achievement

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Expeditionary Learning (EL), a leading K-12 non-profit, today announced that schools in six states have joined its Teacher Potential Project (TPP), a groundbreaking study with Mathematica Policy Research to measure the impact of EL's standards-aligned English Language Arts curriculum and teacher professional learning on middle and elementary school students. The study will also research how coaching supports novice teacher practices and retention.

"As the nation seeks solutions to equip teachers with the training and tools to prepare students for success in a changing world, this study with its gold standard methodology will result in rich data that will be useful as district and policy level leaders make decisions around what works in education," said EL President & CEO Scott Hartl.

TPP is exploring what happens when teachers strive to help their students meet the higher bar of achievement, armed with a set of resources and coaching from a nationally recognized leader in the field.

The nine schools that will receive EL professional development and resources in the 2015-16 school year as part of the study are:

• Batavia Middle School, Batavia, NY
• Whitney M. Young, Jr. PS#15, Jersey City, NJ
• Ezra Nolan MS#40, Jersey City, NJ
• Roosevelt Junior High School, Dolton, IL
• Highlawn Elementary School, Huntington, WV
• Central City Elementary School, Huntington, WV
• Murphy School, Boston, MA
• Ida Jew Academy, San Jose, CA
• Galapagos Charter School, Rockford, IL

"The results of this study will show schools and districts what works in the classroom and help them make decisions around their curriculum and teacher professional development as they strive to implement more rigorous standards," said Cheryl Dobbertin, TPP Program Director. "In addition, the research will provide important data on professional learning that resonates with novice teachers."

Middle and elementary schools in large and mid-sized urban and rural districts across the country have the opportunity to participate in the next year of the study. For more information, visit the EL website and contact Cheryl Dobbertin at [email protected].

Partnership with Mathematica Policy Research
EL is partnering with Mathematica Policy Research, the premier educational research organization. The study is funded by a U.S. Department of Education "Investing in Innovation" (i3) grant.

Highly-rated national curriculum
More than 4 million educators have downloaded EL's grades 3-8 English Language Arts curriculum, which has received top marks from New York City, the State of Connecticut, the State of Washington, and EQuIP – a collaboration of education leaders from Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

About Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning is a leading K-12 education non-profit that is meeting the national challenge to raise student achievement. Combining challenging work with the joy of discovery and pride in mastery, EL offers the education we would want for every child: one that prepares citizens with both the skills and the character necessary for success throughout college, work and life.

Our portfolio of instructional materials and coaching services draws on 20+ years of success in more than 150 EL schools, serving 4,000 teachers and 53,000 students in 31 states. Based on founding principles of meaningful work, character and respect for teachers, EL's offerings transform teaching and learning to promote habits of scholarship and character that lead to high student achievement, regardless of student background. In addition to success on standardized tests, EL students demonstrate critical thinking, intellectual courage and emotional resilience; they possess the passion and the capacity to contribute to a better world. For more information, visit http://elschools.org.

Media contact: April Hattori, [email protected], (212) 239-4455, x150.

SOURCE Expeditionary Learning

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