Partner ABI Schools Highlighted by ANet

EdScale worked with Afya Baltimore, Inc (ABI) from January 2017 until September 2019 to focus and align systems for effective implementation and learning. ABI subsequently asked EdScale lead Tom DeWire to join the board, which he enthusiastically accepted. Specifically, EdScale supported ABI schools to:• Develop, facilitate, and lead twice a year retreats to reflect on progress and plan• Establish school …

Lessons Learned in Sustaining Education Reforms

In August of 2015, EdScale Principal Tom DeWire had the opportunity to catalog the work of leaders in Delaware to sustain education reforms transitioning out of the Race to the Top initiatives. Delaware saw strong student growth and improvement during this time and has sustained and grown — particularly in areas of career and college access since this time (see …

The Role of Strategic Partnerships in Scaling Delaware Pathways

EdScale has been a proud partners of the Delaware Pathways work, helping to shape the New Skills for Youth Application and Implementation Plan, along with regular progress monitoring and annual reporting. This report provides a good overview of the Delaware Pathways work, that has involved partners from across the state and nationally. Read the report here.

Driving Focused Implementation

EdScale supported a replication and expansion workshop — in partnership with the Maryland Alliance for Public Charter Schools — in 2019. Subsequently, we facilitated a consultancy webinar focused on understanding the basics of progress routines and how to use them to drive continuous improvement and learning. We were joined by Maryland charter operator — Afya Baltimore, Inc — to learn …

Undefeated: Inside Five Baltimore Turnaround Schools that Refuse to Fail

EdScale is thankful for the opportunity to partner with leaders and teachers turning around schools in Baltimore. We are humbled to be “the lone consultant hired by The 100% Project” according to the article. In addition, the article includes our favorite description of an implementation progress meeting: “The schools’ instructional leadership team meetings—teacher leaders from different grade levels and subject …

Where is your room to improve?

There is always space for improvement, no matter how long you’ve been in the business. – Oscar De La Hoya Whether you are new in your role or an expert, there is always room to improve. The question is “where should we invest time and resources to get the best improvement and results for our students?” The answer to this …

How do I know what works?

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. – Zoa Neale Hurston How do most people learn about and identify a new strategy or approach? You guessed it, by referral through personal networks. While this is a reliable method (depending on the size of your network), there is a better way. Just like using Angie’s List …

Pick a narrow set of priorities (or just one)!

“Focusing is about saying no.” -Steve Jobs The MetLife Middle School Principal of the year in 2013 spent eight years turning around her Title I school in a suburb of Atlanta, GA with historically low performance. Principal Barron knew that she needed to make some major changes, but she wasn’t sure where to start.  She recognized that she needed to …

Scaling Up Evidence-Based Practices: Strategies from Investing in Innovation

Lessons learned from nine i3 grantees that served over 1.5 million students Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work with Investing in Innovation (i3) grantees to support the scaling up and sustainability of evidence-based programs and teaching practices through a contract with the federal government. The i3 program (and now the Education Innovation and Research …