NWEA Expands to Professional Learning, School Improvement Services


NWEA, the ed tech nonprofit probably best known for its MAP assessments, is expanding its services into professional development and school improvement services.

On the professional learning front, NWEA is offering online, in-person and blended options live and on demand for individuals and teams of educators. The content covers four broad areas of instruction, including using data to support instruction, responsive instruction, differentiated and equitable instruction in math and literacy and creating supportive environments.

On the school improvement front, NWEA will partner with "educational communities to support and develop school leaders to be stewards of sustainable, meaningful, and equity-focused school improvement." As part of that, NWEA partnered with UChicago Impact, whose "5Essentials Framework, developed out of research by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on School Research, offers a holistic and strong evidence-based approach to organizing and focusing school improvement strategies. NWEA will work side by side with school and district leaders, supporting and equipping them with the skills they need in order to lead with confidence, compassion, and impact — ultimately driving better school performance."

Said Chris Minnich, CEO, NWEA: “While data is important in setting meaningful goals, informing action, and creating equitable learning opportunities to support positive student growth, we know that assessments alone do not change lives. It is a pivotal time for education in our country. Given our deep education expertise, we feel that we are uniquely positioned as an organization to affect impactful positive change in our nation’s schools. We are excited to start diving more deeply into our work with teachers, schools and districts to provide hands-on support and strategic counsel that reinforce school cultures that drive learning. These changes will make the organization an even stronger partner for schools who are looking to innovate and continually improve to support student success.”

Further details can be found on NWEA's site.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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