The University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Learning (IFL) has launched an exciting project partnering with the Pittsburgh Public School District to create a new model for English language arts (ELA) improvement. This project, in collaboration with educational nonprofit TNTP, will focus on strengthening ELA instruction in 10 middle schools across the district. Funded with a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the IFL work will impact approximately 1,700 students.
This partnership focuses on integrating practices in the classroom that position students as active meaning-makers, engaging deeply with complex texts through reasoning, discussion and writing. These practices foster participation, require students to do the intellectual heavy lifting and strengthen reading comprehension.
In this innovative pilot, the IFL is establishing cross-school Network Improvement Communities (NICs) to tackle persistent ELA instructional challenges. The NIC model, which has accelerated the IFL’s impact in districts across the country, uses principles of improvement science to develop, test and refine promising instructional routines.
More than professional development, the work will build a sustainable system for improvement in three areas:
For teachers and leaders: Educators are connected to share successful lessons, review student data and collaborate on future lessons. Principals also participate in monthly sessions to deepen their understanding of literacy challenges and learn how to support meaningful instructional change in their schools. This work is supported by the district’s Curriculum and Instruction department and Office of School Performance.
For students: The work contributes to Pittsburgh Public School District students achieving more equitable reading outcomes by strengthening teaching and learning practices.
For the district: The primary goal is to build internal, district-owned expertise so that the positive changes last well beyond the pilot period.
This local work will have an impact far beyond the city of Pittsburgh. The IFL is co-developing a nationwide playbook to help districts implement impactful, cost-effective NICs as well as the leader capacity needed to sustain positive instructional results across the country.
The IFL is a practice arm within Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center focused on bridging the historical gap between learning research and classroom practice. Since its creation in 1995, the IFL has worked in more than 100 urban districts across the country to transform education by focusing on professional development and research-based strategies for teachers and administrators.