Some U.S. school districts are making significant gains in math and reading after adopting research-backed curriculums and new training policies, according to a report from Columbia University.

The “Reach Higher, Together” report highlighted the success of Knox County Schools in Tennessee, which serves about 60,000 students.

Elizabeth Chu, executive director of the Center for Public Research and Leadership at the university, said the analysis centered on the acronym REACH, which stands for “resource, equip, assess and adjust, cohere and hardwire.” In some cases, districts using the five-step approach saw double-digit gains in math and reading proficiency.

“In Knox County, for example, we’ve seen roughly an eight percentage point increase in both ELA and in math for the kids in that district, and we see those types of gains in districts across the country,” Chu reported.

Knox County is also extending its literacy curriculum into the community by partnering with the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs and United Way. Those organizations will align their tutoring and summer programs with the district’s curriculum, so students in after-school programs receive consistent instruction.

Chu noted researchers hope more school districts across the country and in Tennessee will adopt the REACH approach. Knox County is one of several “bright spots” others can look to as an example.

“What is really encouraging, given that we’re hoping that more districts will take up these practices, is that despite the fact that these districts are very different, they’ve all put in place a similar approach that has led to student improvements,” Chu emphasized. “That approach is an approach we can describe in the REACH framework.”

Chu defined “bright spots” as school districts and systems achieving strong outcomes despite serving some of the most challenging student populations. Districts identified in the report serve predominantly Black and Latino students, large multilingual learner populations, students with disabilities and students from economically disadvantaged homes.

Source: Public News Service