Menu

FEATURE ARTICLE

Leading In Reading

Nebraska district nets success with evidence-based learning

By Learning Forward
August 2014
With the accountability age in full swing, the Papillion-La Vista School District in Papillion, Nebraska, has taken a proactive stance to improve learning for all students, focusing directly on the human element as the change agent. The district has implemented a systemic and systematic continuous improvement process that fosters quality teaching through the work of professional learning teams, and the process has led to improved student achievement. This continuous improvement process is known as IDEAL (see diagram at right), which is derived from the elements of the action research model the districts uses: Identify common assessment outcomes to be tracked regularly; Describe students’ strengths and challenges across those outcomes; Evaluate by posing open-ended questions and elaborating on the assessment outcomes; Act by planning evidence-based adult

Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Log In
   

Authors

Melanie Mueller and Ron Hanson

Melanie Mueller ([email protected]) is director of research, assessment, and evaluation and Ron Hanson ([email protected]) is assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the Papillion-La Vista School District in Papillion, Nebraska.

Papillion-La Vista School District: ACtion Research Model

1

Longitudinal Elementary Reading Outcomes: Papillion-La Vista School District

2

References

Blanc, S., Christman, J., Liu, R., Mitchell, C., Travers, E., & Bulkley, K. (2010). Learning to learn from data: Benchmarks and instructional communities. Peabody Journal of Education, 85(2), 205-255.

 

DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., & Karhanek, G. (2004). Whatever it takes: How professional learning communities respond when kids don’t learn. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

 

Fullan, M. (2014). The principal: Three keys to maximizing impact. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 

Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. New York, NY: Routledge

 

Nebraska Department of Education. (2013). 2012-13 state of the schools report. Available at https://reportcard.education.ne.gov.

 

Pinnell, G.S. & Fountas, I.C. (2007). The continuum of literacy learning, grades K-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

 

Schmoker, M. (2011). Focus: Elevating the essentials to radically improve student learning. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

 

Tucker, P.D. & Stronge, J.H. (2005). Linking teacher evaluation and student learning. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

 

Webb, N.L. (2002, April). An analysis of the alignment between mathematics standards and assessment for three states. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.

 

Wiggins, G. & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.


Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


Search
The Learning Professional


Published Date

CURRENT ISSUE


Recent Issues

APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING
April 2026

Cognitive science illuminates how people learn. This issue shows how...

LEARNING WITH AI
February 2026

Generative AI can be a powerful tool for professional learning design and...

WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025

For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what...

LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025

Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as...

×

Register your interest

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.