Instructional Resources
Instruction is a core driver of student academic achievement, and struggling schools often exhibit significant instructional challenges that lead to uneven student outcomes, low proficiency rates, and long-term academic stagnation. One common issue is the lack of curriculum alignment across grade levels, where teachers use disconnected or inconsistent materials. Without a unified, standards-aligned curriculum, instruction fails to build the foundational knowledge students need for success in subsequent years, resulting in gaps that widen over time.
In addition to curriculum issues, many distressed schools lack the necessary systems to support high-quality instruction. Professional development opportunities, data-driven instructional practices, regular feedback cycles, and clear role delegation are often absent or ineffective. High rates of teacher turnover further destabilize instructional consistency and make it difficult to maintain improvement efforts. In some charter networks, centralized decision-making exacerbates these challenges when curriculum or instructional programs are imposed without adapting to the unique needs and contexts of individual schools, leading to confusion and resistance among staff.
This domain of the Indicators of Distress Tool helps authorizers and school leaders recognize these instructional warning signs early. By identifying gaps in curriculum coherence, instructional support, and student interventions, the tool enables targeted supports and timely interventions that can help schools improve instructional quality and student outcomes before problems become entrenched.
Poor or Declining Assessment Outcomes
- Knowledge Building Instructional Techniques – Webinar, FCI
- Using FAST K-2 Data to Drive Instruction – Webinar, FCI
- Improving Teaching and Learning for Students with Disabilities – Webinar, WestEd
- I Have All the Data, Now What? 3 Ways to Use Student Growth Data to Take Action – Webinar, FCI
- Improving Access for Students with Disabilities: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference – Webinar, FCI
- Dissecting the Diagnosis – Why Accommodations Fail to Ensure Long Term Academic & Social Success – Webinar, FCI
- Assessing ELLs for Special Education: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid – Webinar, FCI
- Professional Learning Communities are Key to Raising Student Academic Achievement – Webinar, FCI
- What is Rigor and How Do I Get It? – Webinar, FCI
- Boosting Student Memory: Strategies for Academic Success Based on The Science of Learning – Conference Session, FCI
- Creating Effective Learning Environments – Conference Session, FCI
- Transforming Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners – Resource Guide, Diverse Charter School Coalition
- Academic Performance Framework – Document, Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers
- Effective Interventions for Long-term English Learners – Document, Hanover Research
- English Learners and School Choice: Helping Charter Schools Serve Multilingual Families: Policies for Delivering on Charter Schools’ Equity Potential – Document, The Century Foundation
- Ensuring Equity in Charter Schools – Document, Center for Learner Equity
- Serving English Language Learners: A Toolkit for Public Charter Schools – Document, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
- The Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement in Charter Schools – Document, WestEd
Lack of Focus On Instruction
- Beginning of Year Teacher Coaching for Instructional Excellence – Webinar, FCI
- From Data to Impact: Solving Your School’s Biggest Challenges through MTSS – Webinar, FCI
- Engage your Students While Stressing Less: Tips and Trick for Creating Engaging Lessons – Webinar, FCI
- The Power of Shared Reading and Writing – Webinar, FCI
- Differentiating Literacy Instruction to Better Support English Learners (ELs) K-3 – Webinar, FCI
- Keeping Writing Simple for Students and Teachers – Webinar, FCI
- The Power of Google in the Classroom – FCI, Webinar
- Building an Effective Tier 2 and 3 Tiered Support System to Meet The Needs of Youth Who Are At-Risk – Webinar, FCI
- Key Focus Areas of High Performing Schools – Webinar, FCI
- Let’s Took a Walk: Setting Impactful Look-fors for Classroom Learning Walks that Led to School Improvement – Conference Session, FCI
- Scaffolding in Education: The Legos of Explicit Instruction – Conference Session, FCI
- Raising your ELA Scores through Writing: Simple and Easy – Conference Session, FCI
Lack of Cohesion or Alignment in Curriculum
- How to Personalize Every Lesson with Scholar Education – Webinar, FCI
- Supporting Teachers with Reading Instruction in the B.E.S.T.: A Focus on Comprehension – Webinar, FCI
- The Science of Reading and B.E.S.T.: Because if Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes – Webinar, FCI
- Technology Integration in all Tiers of Instruction – Webinar, FCI
- Utilizing Tech Resources to Deliver Project-based Learning – Webinar, FCI
- Five Types of Videos to Enrich Your Learning Environment – Webinar, FCI
- Problem-Based Learning in Science – Webinar, FCI
- Creating Mathematical Thinkers using Number Strings and Math Talks – Webinar, FCI
- Planning for Professional Development – Webinar, FCI
- Empowering Educators: Harnessing AI in the Classroom – Webinar, FCI