Skip to content

Schoolwide coherence through coordinated adoption of a structured direct instruction program

Design · All designs
Evidence · no claims cited

Description

Ackerman Elementary achieved the highest coherence ratings among the 11 field study schools by adopting a Direct Instruction program providing scripted lessons and matching assessments in mathematics and reading for grades one through six, supplemented by grade-level literacy leaders and classroom libraries. Teachers met in within-grade and across-grade teams, often twice weekly, to coordinate curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The report notes "The fully articulated instruction and assessment scheme provided by the Direct Instruction program, along with schoolwide implementation of the literacy/library supplement, were leading reasons for Ackerman's high rating on instructional program coherence."

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • A fully articulated instructional and assessment scheme
  • Ongoing whole-school staff development for implementing the program
  • Grade-level literacy leaders to support peers

Constraints

  • Not every school would agree with Ackerman's decisions to adopt Direct Instruction and to focus its program so much on improved test scores

Target Learners

  • Elementary school students in grades one through six in high-poverty urban schools

Learning Goals

  • Raising reading and mathematics achievement through a common scripted instructional framework

Claims

Examples

-

Key Sources

  • Newmann, F. M., Smith, B., Allensworth, E., & Bryk, A. S. (2001). School Instructional Program Coherence: Benefits and Challenges. Consortium on Chicago School Research. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id direct-instruction-coordinated-adoption-pattern
title Schoolwide coherence through coordinated adoption of a structured direct instruction program
description Ackerman Elementary achieved the highest coherence ratings among the 11 field study schools by adopting a Direct Instruction program providing scripted lessons and matching assessments in mathematics and reading for g...
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-08
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — newmann-2001

Frontmatter is the page's machine-readable record — see the Schema & Guide.