Establishing a comprehensive standards-based instructional program that is responsive to a range of student instructional needs is a central component of school reform and turning around underperforming schools. In order to ensure a rigorous academic curriculum accessible to all students, schools must have access to the most recent standards-aligned instructional core and intervention materials, schedules must challenge advanced students and allow time for offering additional support to struggling students, and teachers must be offered opportunities to participate in collaborative data-driven lesson planning. English learners and special education students are also offered additional supports as needed.

Our highlighted schools have strengthened their academic programs in a number of ways, including developing block master schedules that offer college prep curriculum and additional intervention time for below-grade-level students, lengthening the daily schedule in order to gain additional instructional days over the year, infusing differentiated small-group instruction throughout the school day, and offering extended-day and weekend programs focused on academic support. Instructional planning and professional development have also been strengthened through ongoing teacher collaboration and instructional assistance from site-based literacy and math coaches.

This section provides examples of materials from these schools.