Teaching & Learning
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.