In 2015, the City University of New York (CUNY) launched a new program-- Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE)--aimed at improving college graduation rates. A prior randomized-control evaluation of the program found a nearly 12 percentage point increase in graduation five years after college entry. Using this impact estimate and national data on…

Narrative authors use their imaginations to generate and select content for their writing. Narrative imagination is central to young writers' agency over their choices. However, writing pedagogies have become more formulaic, allowing little room for personal agency, while efforts to teach imagination have fallen by the wayside, regarded as vague,…

Despite growing interest in feedback strategies for school improvement in Ghana, learner perspectives--especially at the senior high school level--remain underexplored. This gap limits understanding of the effectiveness of learner feedback in driving meaningful change. Guided by contingency theory, which underscores the need for context-responsive…

This paper examines interactions between educational systems and environments, focusing on the stance leaders take toward instructional guidance in their environment. After analyzing interview and focus group data from 49 school and system leaders across three systems (i.e., Montessori, International Baccalaureate, Catholic), we found differences…

In England, a new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) was launched in 2019. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OfSTED) describes it as evolutionary in bringing out education improvement. Others criticise its methodology and detrimental impact on schools. This study compares the foci, evidence-collecting methods…

This tip sheet introduces a three-step coaching cycle focused on strengthening implementation of effective instructional strategies. It offers practical guidance for applying the coaching cycle to strengthen teacher practice and improve student outcomes. By understanding each step of the coaching cycle, coaches and those who train or support them…

Background/purpose: Vietnam's educational reforms and the 2018 General Education Curriculum require primary school teachers to possess strong competencies in innovation, creativity, and adaptability. Existing training is often theoretical and detached from classroom practice. This study designs and tests a school-based professional development…

When considering institutional transformation, assessment is not always the first thought as a key tool for change. Assessment is often framed as a matter of compliance. However, when implemented effectively and intentionally, assessment becomes a powerful tool for continuous improvement. Taking place during the 2025 International Conference on…

One common method for school improvement focuses on improving teacher instruction through observations with feedback in post-conferences. While school leaders dedicate many hours to observing teachers and providing feedback, observational feedback does not always change instruction. While previous studies have examined teacher perceptions of…

Determining how to increase practicing elementary teacher science instruction self-efficacy through ongoing professional development has been a problem in one urban Texas school district. Existing literature indicated science instruction self-efficacy could be built using professional development. However, there is a gap in the literature…

This research reports on implementing the integrated laboratory work to achieve effective learning in the biochemistry course. The integrated laboratory work includes three stages: pre-laboratory, lab work, and post-laboratory. In other words, the three stages include planning, implementing, and evaluating investigation activities in the…

Recalling Freire's lessons on education and teacher development, this study embraces the transformative power of dialogue. In the context of Brazilian public schools, where education faces challenges such as rigid curriculum prescriptions, the researchers implemented a Lesson Study cycle as a dialogic teacher development intervention. Despite…

Traditional teacher evaluations -- full-lesson observations, write-ups, and debriefs -- are time-consuming and largely ineffective. As a principal, Kim Marshall found that mini-observations -- short, frequent, unannounced classroom visits, each followed by a face-to-face coaching conversation and brief narrative summary -- actually improved…

Theory-focused joint displays represent an innovative approach to data and results integration with potential to build understanding of complex constructs, including factors that influence change over time. However, the extant literature offers few examples for doing so, particularly in convergent research designs. Therefore, the purpose of this…

Much of the literature in library leadership and management focuses on strategies and practices based on discrete attributes and sweeping human behaviors intended to improve operational effectiveness. This paper challenges the reader to build a mindset for leadership that reflects the real world, where leaders and managers work within parameters…