Using scientific research to improve education is not a novel idea; it is commonsense and the most effective path to improving educational outcomes. Far too often, doing trials and gathering results is overlooked as new teaching fads come along. It’s refreshing to see the tried-and-true teaching strategies return to the classroom. The George W. Bush Institute has chosen three school districts to participate in its Middle School Matters program.
The George W. Bush Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Center today announced the selection of three school districts to receive intensive, district-wide support from nationally recognized educational researchers during the 2015-2016 school year through the Middle School Matters (MSM) initiative. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District and San Angelo Independent School District from Texas and Etiwanda School District from Southern California have been chosen to receive expert assistance in implementing high-quality, research-based strategies in advanced reasoning, data management, dropout prevention, and in reading, writing, and math instruction.
The districts will receive training and help throughout the year in the implementation of these researched and proven techniques. The efforts will “translate research into practice” using strategies that have already been tested in 16 individual schools.
This is the proper way to implement change in schools. Test the curriculum and techniques, then make sure they actually work with an independent study of the results. Once the study has confirmed the theory, strategies can then be implemented further while continually testing the results independently.
To learn more about Middle School Matters, visit http://www.bushcenter.org/education-reform/middle-school-matters.
Lennie Jarratt is the former director of the Center for Education Opportunities at The Heartland Institute
