New NWEA Research Highlights How Coherent Instructional Systems Can Support Strong Student Growth

Study uses lessons learned from a school that achieved twice the national average in academic growth in a school year

BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, released today a new research brief that offers a closer look at what it takes to translate strong instructional practices into meaningful improvements for students.

The study, "The Power of Connectedness: A Case for a Coherent Instruction System for Reading and Science Improvement," examines the instructional practices behind strong academic growth at one elementary school in Texas. During the 2024–25 school year, students at the school achieved nearly twice the national average in academic growth in both reading and science. Researchers found that the school's success was not driven by a single initiative, but by several interconnected components working together as a coherent instructional system:

• Shared instructional vision: provided the foundation for instructional improvement by reducing ambiguity about what strong instruction looks like across classrooms.
• Aligned professional learning: transforming the instructional vision from a set of expectations into a learnable set of practices, giving teachers regular opportunities to plan, rehearse, and refine lessons together.
• Regular coaching and feedback: Consistent observations, coaching, and feedback reinforced professional learning and helped close the loop between instructional vision and classroom practice.

"Each of these practices is valuable on its own, but the real power came from how they worked together to accelerate student learning," said Dr. Susan Kowalski, Lead Research Scientist at NWEA. "None of the individual components is new. What distinguishes this case is the intentional alignment among them: a shared vision for instruction, professional learning tied directly to that vision, and ongoing coaching and feedback, sustained through consistent instructional leadership across levels."

The school for the study was identified using national MAP Growth data. It serves a high-poverty student population, high percentages of Black and Hispanic students, and many emergent multilingual students, while also experiencing high teacher turnover. Given the exceptional academic growth, the school was a bright spot in the data. NWEA researchers conducted interviews with district and school leaders, as well as teachers, to understand what practices and instructional routines contributed to the school's outcomes.

The findings are especially relevant for districts working to improve instructional consistency amid staffing challenges, including high teacher turnover and a largely novice or early-career workforce. Rather than relying on individual veteran teachers or stand-alone initiatives, the school built a system designed to continuously strengthen instructional practice across classrooms.

That system was reinforced through a regular cadence of professional learning and coaching. Teachers participated in weekly 90-minute curriculum-based professional learning sessions where they unpacked curriculum content, practiced instructional strategies, anticipated student thinking, and received feedback from peers and leaders before teaching. School leaders also conducted frequent classroom walkthroughs — in some cases as many as 14 in a week — followed by targeted coaching and feedback.

Together, these structures helped create consistency between what teachers were expected to do, how they were supported in doing it, and how their practice was continuously refined.

Given the practical implications of this study, NWEA also released two supplemental guides to support other districts and schools interested in following this example:

1. Recipe for results: A district leader's guide to curriculum-based professional learning 
2. Teacher's guide to classroom practices that accelerate reading and science growth 

This study is a follow-up to the 2025 research brief titled "Integrating Literacy and Science: A Powerful Partnership for Student Success," which explored the connection between literacy and science instruction, documenting the benefits of an integrated instructional approach at the elementary level.

Read the full research brief: https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/the-power-of-connectedness-a-case-for-a-coherent-instructional-system-for-reading-and-science-improvement/ 

About NWEA

NWEA®, a division of HMH, supports educators worldwide by providing responsive, evidence-based assessment solutions that illuminate learning needs and fuel student growth. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including its flagship assessment – MAP Growth – and professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice and improve student outcomes. As part of its commitment to bring valuable insights to the education community, NWEA engages in research that examines issues that shed light on inequities and other barriers to academic opportunities. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA partners to help all kids learn.

Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, [email protected] or 971.361.9526

SOURCE NWEA