Our Impact

SDP fellows and partners are at the forefront of analyzing data and implementing innovative solutions to our most pressing education challenges. 

How We Make a Difference

Discpline

Diagnosing Discipline Disparities

A district with a long history of inequity created a program to raise achievement among African American boys. Was it working?

card

New Tests, New Questions

New teacher evaluations include state test scores, raising questions about fairness for teachers in non-tested grades and subjects. What happens when teachers create those assessments? SDP partners in Delaware found out.

card

Measuring Summer Melt in Ft. Worth

Too many high-school graduates get accepted to college but never enroll.  How one SDP district sought to change that.

Chart

Charting a Course for School Turnarounds in Boston

A group of “turnaround” schools needed goals and a plan to improve—fast. How could their district put their data to work?

Teacher

Designing a New Teacher Evaluation System in Albuquerque

What does it take to build trusted new teacher evaluation systems?

card

Improving Career and Technical Education Policy in New York

For career and technical education programs, success is measured by the number of students employed after graduation. Is that the right goal?

Card

Improving Student Perceptions in Baltimore

Students’ perceptions of their teachers and schools matter, but how can we tell what they think?

card

Keeping Pace with Early Expectations

Early reading skills are a key predictor of student success. How three agencies used data to tell whether very young children are on track.

card

Looking for Early Warning Signs in Los Angeles High Schools

A test for 9th graders was used to identify which students would need extra help. But was it correctly identifying them?

passaic

Staying On Track and On Time for Graduation in Passaic

As far back as elementary school, some students are already less likely to graduate high school on time. How can we keep them on track?

card

Fact-Checking Criticism for Charters in Atlanta

Critics say it’s unfair to compare charters to traditional public schools nearby, because they don’t serve the same students. Is that true?

card

Putting New Performance Ratings to Use

Teacher-evaluation systems can show which teachers have the biggest impact. How can we use those insights to improve learning for students?