The Role of Districts in Fostering Instructional Improvement: Lessons from Three Urban Districts Partnered with the Institute for Learning

This work analyzes three urban school districts’ efforts to improve the instructional quality and performance of their schools, and assesses the contribution to those efforts made by an intermediary organization, the Institute for Learning. It analyzes three urban districts’ efforts to improve the instructional quality and performance of their schools and assesses the contribution to those efforts made by an intermediary organization, the Institute for Learning. The authors identify constraints and enablers of district success, assess the nature and effect of district-intermediary partnerships, and make recommendations for districts undertaking similar instructional reforms.