Beyond the Initiative: Tools for Student Success

Beyond the Initiative: Tools for Student Success

by Dr. Jill Lammert

Season 1

From adoption to impact: Using high-quality instructional materials to improve student outcomes

High-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are widely recognized as an important lever for improving teaching and learning, but selecting materials is only the beginning. In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, Marissa Payzant of the Nebraska Department of Education and Chris Dwyer with the National Comprehensive Center talk about what it takes to move from adoption of HQIM to meaningful implementation. Get started with the Guide to the Implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) today.

Beyond the numbers: Strengthening early math through everyday practice

Early math lays the groundwork for future learning across subjects. What does it take to build strong mathematical thinking in the earliest years? In this episode, Kerry Friedman of Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Appalachia and the National Comprehensive Center, and Bethany Gordon, a prekindergarten teacher in Virginia, discuss the Teaching Math to Young Children Toolkit. They share how it helps teachers build confidence, deepens understanding of early numeracy, and creates engaging learning experiences that support long-term student success. Check out the toolkit at WWC | Teaching Math to Young Children.

Measure twice, build once: How a Learning Agenda became Georgia’s blueprint for retaining special education educators

In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, we focus on how Learning Agendas can help state educational agencies use data to make more informed decisions, align resources with priorities, and establish sustainable practices that support long-term success. Our guests are Danielle Crain, Operations Lead for the Learning Agenda Initiative, and Christy Todd, Chief of Staff at the Georgia Department of Education. Learn more about the Learning Agenda Initiative: Learning Agenda Playbook | Comprehensive Center Network (CCNetwork)

Reimagining career readiness: How Idaho builds industry-aligned pathways for students

In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, we discuss how Idaho is reimagining career readiness with the Idaho Career Ready Students (ICRS) program. This program incentivizes districts to create career and technical education opportunities aligned with local and regional industry and workforce needs for students in grades 7-12. Guests include: Idaho State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield and Allison Duman, the K-12 Initiatives Director. Learn more about the ICRS program: https://www.sde.idaho.gov/idaho-career-ready-students/

Connecting school spending to student outcomes: Data-driven conversations for school improvement

In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, we focus on measuring return on investment in education and how schools, districts, states, and communities can use the School Spending and Outcomes Snapshot (SSOS) tool to fuel judgment-free, solutions-oriented conversations about resource allocation and school improvement. Our guest is Dr. Marguerite Roza, the Director of Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. Get started with the SSOS tool and hear from state and district leaders who have already used it on the CCNetwork website.

Starting conversations and building relationships to advance education for Native students: Circles of Reflection

In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, we focus on how Tribes, Tribal educational agencies and departments, and local educational agencies, districts, and schools are creating space, starting conversations, and building relationships to advance education for Native students--and the resources they're customizing to do so. Guests include: Emerson Odango, National Comprehensive Center Member, and Beth Geiger, Grants and Development Department for the Puyallup Tribe in Washington. Explore the first iteration of Circles of Reflection here (an updated version is coming soon): https://compcenternetwork.org/resource/278/resources-to-help-states-advance-education-for-native-students-circles-of-reflection. Guests Emerson Odango, National Comprehensive Center Member Beth Geiger, Grants and Development Department for the Puyallup Tribe in Washington

Strengthening core instruction and serving students living in poverty: High Impact Instructional Practice (HIIP) Toolkit

In this episode of Beyond the Initiative, we focus on instructional practices that have proven successful in serving students and families living in poverty and how educators can apply them across content areas and grade levels. Guests include: Kim Benton, National Comprehensive Center Member, and Jennifer Ishee, Principal at Richton Elementary School in Mississippi. Get started with the High Impact Instructional Practices (HIIP) Toolkit today. Guests Kim Benton, former Mississippi Chief Academic Officer and Deputy State Superintendent for the Mississippi Department of Education Jennifer Ishee, Principal at Richton Elementary School in Mississippi