Blog

Commitment to Results Martina Navratilova once said, “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” Consultants and clients involved in school improvement don’t need to be as [...]

Six Advantages of Partnering with a Certified Benefit Corporation As a member of the Marzano Research team, I have to admit—I’m pretty darn proud of this company. We’re a women-owned small business dedicated to working [...]

How Marzano Research Can Help Your District Comply and Improve If you’re a school district leader in Alaska, you may be familiar with the state's legal requirement to periodically review your educator evaluation system. This [...]

Kindergarten represents a pivotal milestone for children and their families. The transition to kindergarten is exciting and may evoke questions for families about their child’s readiness and how best to support them. State education agencies [...]

Across the country, conversations in schools, board meetings, and education departments focus on “grade level.” Grade level refers to the educational progress of a student. When we question whether students are performing on grade level, [...]

An interview with Rural Alliance CEO Kevin Jacka This blog is part of a Marzano Research series where we ask experts how they would invest $10 million in rural education. Browse the full series here. When I asked [...]

Rural schools face unique challenges when it comes to providing high-quality education environments for students. Limited tax bases, declining enrollments, and geographic isolation can all contribute to difficulties in maintaining and upgrading school facilities in [...]

What would you do with $10 million to support rural schools? When we asked Marzano Research’s rural education team this question, it sparked a passionate discussion about innovative solutions. Now, our rural education team is [...]

How We Developed a New Tool for Parents Marzano Research believes in ensuring all children have the support they need to thrive in school and beyond. Recently, we contracted with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) on [...]

Our Classroom Practice team at Marzano Research has a deep interest in personalized, competency-based learning and standards-based grading. From evaluating gamified learning to advising teachers on personalizing education to partnering with schools seeking to prioritize [...]

Closing the Teacher Pay Gap It’s no secret that the U.S. is facing a teacher shortage. There are numerous reasons for this shortage, but a notable contributing factor that states grapple with is teacher compensation.   [...]

Survey reveals insights Schools across the country are exploring competency-based education models to focus on mastery rather than seat time. Transforming grading practices, however, remains an obstacle.   Recent research in Missouri sheds light on how [...]

How Virtual and Augmented Reality Is Changing the Way We Teach and Learn Have you ever wondered how we could bring textbooks to life? Make historical events unfold before our eyes? Transform abstract concepts into [...]

The Promise of Interim Data High-stakes summative testing has been the dominant model for accountability for many years.  However, interim assessments administered throughout the year could provide a better picture of student learning with less [...]

In the final stop on our Wyoming road trip, this blog delves into Marzano Research’s statewide assessment of the Wyoming Believing in Literacy Together (WY BILT) grant implementation and impact. To read about some of [...]

This blog series describes Marzano Research’s work on literacy in Wyoming, such as providing tailored professional learning around using data to improve literacy systems and reviewing certain districts’ existing literacy systems, including Converse 1 and [...]

The previous installment of this series explored Converse School District #1's efforts to drive district-wide literacy system growth, including improving instructional and assessment rigor and increasing collaboration in teacher professional learning communities (PLCs).   As [...]

The first post in this series described how the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) contracted with us at Marzano Research to enhance data literacy for districts and schools across the state. The blog shared how [...]

Every educator knows data is more than mere numbers—it's a powerful roadmap to understanding student performance, learning trends, and areas in need of improvement. Data literacy is an essential skill for educators because it equips [...]

At Marzano Research, we’re dedicated to providing educators and schools with insightful content and helpful tools. As we reflect on the past year, here are our top five blogs and resources that resonated the most [...]

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms today are multifaceted arenas requiring nuanced approaches. Oftentimes, despite families' commitments to the academic progress of their children and teachers' efforts to ensure educational quality for their students, a myriad [...]

What would you do with $10 million to support rural schools?  When we posed this thought-provoking question to our rural education team at Marzano Research, it set the stage for a passionate discussion about innovative [...]

The world of education is constantly evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging daily. To navigate this ever-changing landscape, teachers need more than just classroom experience—they need to become researchers in their own right. The [...]

Applying the classic principle of "show, don't tell" makes content more engaging and relatable. While numbers and statistics are essential, here's how we paired the data with personal stories to more deeply convey the impact of a grant [...]

“I wish I had a coach when I was a principal.” I hear this statement often when working with people who are coaching principals. They recognize the value of having a coach, but not all leaders feel this [...]

While I have no doubt that individual knowledge, strengths, and characteristics are essential for success, my recent work with Generation Schools Network convinced me that success cannot be boiled down to one’s individual abilities. Having [...]

There are many different paths that lead education professionals into the world of school improvement consulting. Often, stellar classroom teachers or administrators who have had success leading their classrooms, schools, or districts to achieve better outcomes are tapped [...]

Across the country, Marzano Research works with states like Alaska, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming on literacy initiatives. These states and dozens of others are writing detailed guidance and pumping millions of dollars [...]

We often hear kids, and even adults, talk about that one teacher. You know, the one who really connected with them. Who “made learning fun” and whose class they looked forward to every day. Who [...]

During a recent conference call, we began by introducing ourselves. We were a mixed group of educators from different levels of the education system. After several people had introduced themselves, it was Hannah’s turn. She [...]

Through our work on the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest, in partnership with WestEd, we have supported the Lower Kuskokwim School District through their focus on teacher recruitment and retention.   REL Northwest is hosting a free, one-hour webinar on [...]

We are very excited to start working on three new projects in the coming weeks. Read details about them below!  Materials to Measure NorthStar Skills  Client: Generation Schools Network  Generation Schools Network (GSN) is working [...]

June is LGBTQ+ pride month and for those schools still in session, it’s a great time to talk to students about equity and justice. One of our commitments as an organization is that of Diversity, [...]

Amplify Student Voices: Equitable Practices to Build Confidence in the Classroom is a new book from the minds of AnnMarie Baines, Diana Medina, and Caitlin Healy. It is incredibly written, tells evocative stories, [...]

Through our work on the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest, in partnership with WestEd, we have supported the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) through various needs. One project REL Northwest recently [...]

Here at Marzano Research, one of our passions is rural education. Thankfully, we get to travel in these areas to do field research, trainings, and more. To celebrate our love for rural areas, we’ve gathered [...]

In case you missed it, we presented at Learning Forward’s 53rd Annual Conference! We were part of an incredible conference hosted in Nashville, Tennessee, and in attendance with over 3,000 educators! Our [...]

We strive to provide support and resources to all those in education. Hopefully, you found one of our blog posts or resources helpful this year!  We looked into which blog posts and resources were most [...]

Research comes in many forms, and all teachers have used research in some way, shape, or form as they engage in professional development. Large studies with long-range timelines and tens of thousands of participants certainly [...]

Danette Parsley, CEO and one of the owners of Marzano Research, has been selected as the President-Elect of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI). She will serve as President-Elect starting in November [...]

This year’s Learning Forward conference is taking place in Nashville, Tennessee from December 4th through 7th. We’re so excited that we will be attending to deliver a session on Framing Core Competencies for School Improvement [...]

Carrie Germeroth, one of our managing senior researchers, was on Early Learning Ventures’ What’s Up Wednesday series. During this episode with Malana Miner, Carrie discussed how we help programs develop logic models to evaluate interventions [...]

CPSN selected Danette Parsley, our very own CEO and fearless leader, as a member of their International Advisors. Danette was selected due to her experience with leading large-scale, geographically spread professional learning networks. About CPSN [...]

In honor of National Comic Book Day (September 25th), we have collected a list of resources to help you incorporate comic books and graphic novels in the classroom. Resilient Educator: Using Comic Book Art & [...]

To support early childhood math, Marzano Research partnered with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. This partnership is meant to aid in the development of a strategic approach to early childhood [...]

Marzano Research is partnering with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (DEC) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to conduct an analysis of current kindergarten school readiness and pre-K assessment tools. Purpose: Collect, review, and disseminate an [...]

As the new school year approaches, students will not only be returning to the classroom but also to the playing field for the fall sports season, where they may [...]

Tomorrow, August 9th, is National Book Lovers Day and I’m sure it comes as no surprise that we LOVE reading. I asked some of our folks what they’ve been reading and there’s such a variety [...]

As we near the start of the school year, there is an exciting new opportunity for schools to receive grant funds to plan, implement, and operate full-service community schools. Here at Marzano Research, we’re really [...]

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve been very busy in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) world lately, especially in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Early Childhood (OEC), now the Department of Early Childhood, contracted [...]

We are officially past the midway point of summer with the coming and going of the 4th of July. Some have taken vacations, others are counting down the days to their vacation, and for some, it’s business as [...]

Colorado launched its Department of Early Childhood on July 1, 2022, after a year of transitioning when HB21-1304 was passed in June 2021. The transition to this new department was made possible by many Transition Advisory Group (TAG) [...]

Teacher shortages are increasingly impacting districts across the United States. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this worrisome trend. Moreover, teacher shortages disproportionately impact rural districts and their communities. Colorado’s rural districts are no [...]

One of my younger sisters asked a lot of questions when she was a little girl, so many questions that my other sisters and I asked our mother, “Why does she ask so many questions?” If you know [...]

School districts around the country share the goal of preparing their students to succeed in the future, regardless of where these students’ individual journeys take them. As a result, there is a growing [...]

A colleague recently asked me to describe my “consulting style.” I interpreted their question as wanting to learn more about how I see and enact my role in helping school systems become more effective. My response: “It [...]

Have you ever thought about the kinds of questions your doctor asks you and how strange it would seem for you to ask the same questions back to your doctor? Have you been getting exercise? Do you have [...]

Since 1992, The Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) has indicated minimal improvement in reading. One of every three fourth-grade students cannot read or understand text at a basic proficient level. Disrupted learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated [...]

States from Tennessee to Wyoming have passed laws aimed at ensuring that all students can read. The laws require a variety of specific actions from using instructional methods based on the science of reading to [...]

To undertake any major change, the critical first step is to take stock of where you are and get your house in order. In the case of major change in educational systems, this means evaluating your current [...]

“You can listen like a blank wall or like a splendid auditorium where every sound comes back fuller and richer.” ―Alice Duer Miller, American poet “The word ‘listen’ contains the same letters as the word ‘silent.’” ―Alfred [...]

When state education agencies and school districts set out to build new systems, programs, and tools, it’s helpful to have a trusted partner to help pilot, validate, and refine them to ensure they’re working as [...]

The rural schools that I’ve visited across the country are each unique—from Newhalen, Alaska, where as a visiting researcher I flew in on a bush plane, to Houston, Missouri, where the district recently purchased a [...]

Learning about the history of tribal nations and contemporary issues in an authentic, culturally competent way is important for all students. Marzano Research recently partnered with the Oregon Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education [...]

It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of another year! We’re so appreciative of everyone who plays a role in supporting students and the work that has gone into navigating another year impacted by a global pandemic. [...]

I feel grounded and most productive when my house is well-organized and tidy. But using an annual “spring cleaning” approach doesn’t work for me—I start with great gusto but quickly get overwhelmed with the complexity and time demands [...]

By Joshua Stewart, Senior Researcher and Marc Brodersen, Managing Senior Researcher at Marzano Research and Debra Pacchiano, Vice President of Translational Research and Isabel Farrar, Research Associate at Start Early When a tool such as a rubric, assessment, [...]

Karen Martin Director of learning and instruction for Denali Borough School District in Healy, Alaska Karen Martin is the director of learning and instruction for Denali Borough School District in Healy, Alaska. Before, she was [...]

As a member of a team of school improvement consultants, I often participated in the hiring process when we had openings for additional consultants. The process began with reading résumés and deciding which applicants to interview. There were [...]

Change is the only constant. (Heraclitus) Things change. Nothing ever stays the same, yo. You ain’t never gonna stay 25 or 30 or 40. You always gonna change. Every day you gonna change. (Ghostface Killah) Whether you’re [...]

Sara L. Prewett, Ph.D., is an educational researcher and consultant. Her expertise focuses on K-12 students’ academic and social-emotional wellbeing and health. She studies the mechanisms that promote forming high quality teacher-student relationships, [...]

Andrea Holt, LMFT Certified Addiction Specialist, Certified EMDR Clinician Andrea Holt is a mental health professional with over 20 years of experience. She currently works as a therapist and mental health consultant for various organizations. [...]

Student-teaching placements play a vital role in helping college undergraduates prepare for their careers in education. This important experience was interrupted by the pandemic as most classrooms transitioned to virtual and/or hybrid-style learning. As school administrators and education [...]

The way we teach and evaluate both K–12 students and K–12 educators has changed dramatically as technology has evolved over the years. The next step in this development is a process that’s been used in the high-tech world [...]

Working with Legacy High School in Bismarck, North Dakota, through REL Central, we were recently asked to look into considerations in building an effective peer tutoring program. Peer tutoring allows students to learn from one another in [...]

The South Dakota Department of Education recently chose Marzano Research to evaluate its 3-year grant project aimed at supporting the department’s efforts to better serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Our work with the department provides [...]

After an unconventional year, families and caregivers might be thinking about how to support their children’s ongoing learning while also enjoying summertime. Personalized learning is a great approach. Simply put, personalized learning customizes [...]

Douglas Van Dine Senior Researcher As we reach the end of another school year, my thoughts turn back to my years as a middle school math teacher. This time of year is always filled with [...]

Social-emotional learning (SEL) has received tremendous attention in recent years. It’s also a leading priority among district and school administrators who are planning for their students’ needs following disruptions to students’ lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. In [...]

Marzano Research Staff June is Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate and honor the history and achievements of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. As an education organization with a commitment to [...]

This post is the fourth in a series of blog posts with Ceri Dean, Danette Parsley, and Mike Siebersma to introduce the School Improvement Consultant Framework. One day when I was a young girl, my father was working [...]

As the research librarian for Marzano Research, I monitor the latest news and research on topics that are important to our stakeholders and staff. As you might imagine, the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic—and potential solutions to the [...]

This post is the third in a series of blog posts with Ceri Dean, Danette Parsley, and Mike Siebersma to introduce the School Improvement Consultant Framework. I love to travel. I love meeting new people and exploring [...]

This post is the second in a series of blog posts with Ceri Dean, Danette Parsley, and Mike Siebersma to introduce the School Improvement Consultant Framework. I was fresh out of a run as a middle school [...]

This post is the first in a series of blog posts with Ceri Dean, Danette Parsley, and Mike Siebersma to introduce the School Improvement Consultant Framework. My father was a big proponent of on-the-job training, OJT as [...]

“Last year I felt like I was coming into a classroom to implement what I had learned in college. Then remote learning hit, and I felt more overwhelmed.” Franklin Mitchell, a second-year teacher working at South Middle School [...]

Marzano Research recently partnered with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to support its efforts to ensure each and every child entering kindergarten has the tools necessary to succeed. This initiative, launched by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) at CDHS in [...]

To celebrate and honor Black History Month, we’ve assembled a set of lessons, resources, and learning materials from education-focused organizations for students of all ages. As we pay tribute to the vast contributions African Americans have made to [...]

The term “school improvement” is used quite a bit in the education community. It’s a term that’s as broad as it is common and encompasses a variety of elements. But what does it actually mean? When we talk [...]

In addition to its distinct geographic location and beauty, Hawai’i has a unique and rich moʻomeheu (cultural) heritage. The arrival of the first Hawaiian people dates back to as early as the fourth century, as navigators explored [...]

As the research librarian for Marzano Research, I monitor the latest news and research on topics that are important to our stakeholders and staff. As you might imagine, the ramifications of COVID-19—and potential solutions to the problems the [...]

As my colleague Mckenzie Haines stated in her recent blog post, logic models are a great starting point for planning your school improvement strategy. Once you’ve taken this step, however, how do you know if you’ve achieved the [...]

Given the current cultural climate in our country, the work of the Region IV Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC)  is now more important than ever. Marzano Research works in partnership with the WEEAC, supporting their work through [...]

You already know that individual students in your classroom or school respond differently to different types of learning and subject matter. Whether students prefer remote learning, individual learning, or experiential learning, every student excels in different learning modalities [...]

Anyone who’s ever led a classroom will tell you that no two students learn the same way. Everyone processes information in a unique manner and at their own pace. Figuring out how to best reach a given learner [...]

A logic model is a great way to get started in organizing and focusing your school improvement efforts. Developing a logic model can help you think about and visualize what school improvement means to you, the activities that [...]

K–12 and higher education are noticeably different structurally, operationally, fiscally, and in their governance. However, to achieve arguably their most fundamental, complementary purposes—development of an informed citizenry and talented workforce—they require interdependence and collaboration. Mutually beneficial partnerships, driven [...]

Everyone in education is navigating new territory these days as we continue to work through the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. While educators are doing their best to use new technologies, new models, and new delivery systems, it’s [...]

As students, teachers, principals, and administrators transition from back-to-school season into the nitty gritty of the 2020/21 school year, there’s no shortage of pandemic-related issues to contend with. One of the more pressing issues facing educators at the [...]

For the last several years, REL Central at Marzano Research and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) have worked together on multiple projects supporting innovative ways to deliver education. In 2017, North Dakota legislators passed Senate Bill [...]

Only a few years ago, two South Dakota state agencies were faced with a challenge. With the third-highest teen suicide rate in the country, it was clear that too many students experiencing mental illnesses were being missed by [...]

Creativity and innovation are valuable tools for an educator to have, and right now, these traits are more important than ever. Finding new ways to connect with students and keeping their spirits as high as possible as we [...]

COVID-19 changed America’s perception of the importance of skilled workers. Rapid construction of medical centers, manufacturing of complex machinery, food preparation and provision, and healthcare support are seen as critical to our continued well-being–as are the workers who [...]

The Past Year This month marks one year since we took the reins of Marzano Research to lead the company into the future as an independent, woman-owned small business. As new business owners, we were tremendously excited, a [...]

Evaluating a student’s academic progress entirely on a preset, stagnant set of guidelines and within a rigid timeline is fast becoming a thing of the past in American education. Flexibility, natural progression, and personalization are all major components [...]

Relax. Breathe. The spring semester has been completed. It wasn’t easy, but you made it to the finish line of a marathon that felt like a sprint. Whew. Everyone in the education community should be congratulated and commended [...]

During these days of work from home, I find that food is too accessible. After putting on my first 8 COVID-19 pounds, I decided I needed to take that weight back off. So, I built an MTSD—a “Multi-Tiered [...]

This crisis is a double whammy for Denver’s low-income families. Not only are they the most vulnerable to falling ill, they are also suffering the most severe economic losses in the early days of the pandemic. Add to [...]

Teacher. Caregiver. Colleague. Parent. These words all used to mean different things, but, nowadays, the lines between them are very much blurred. In the remote learning environment unleashed by COVID-19, parents and caregivers are taking a more active role in their [...]

As a middle school English teacher, I’m pretty familiar with classic idioms. The old saying “when it rains, it pours” definitely comes to mind when thinking about how COVID-19 has impacted the education world. Like many educators, I used [...]

As a senior in high school, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting social distancing have impacted my life and schooling in a number of ways. Now, rather than teachers giving us lessons verbally and in person, they [...]

Even though the delivery methodology of education has changed significantly over the years, decades, and centuries, at the end of the day its function and intent will always remain the same. We’re in the business of building relationships and [...]

As we continue to adjust to new learning and teaching parameters in the wake of COVID-19, the mental health of students should be of major concern to education communities and the families they serve. Research has shown that students [...]

Since the arrival of COVID-19, we’ve had to reenvision the way we do just about everything, including schooling. Over the past several weeks, the education community has worked with urgency and creativity to tackle myriad challenges—from making sure [...]

Based in Jefferson County, Colorado, Jeffco Prosperity Partners (JPP) is a community-based program focused on supporting families in their journeys from poverty to prosperity. JPP helps children, youth, and their parents in: getting education securing jobs prioritizing health and wellness [...]

Hiring teachers with the right qualifications can mean all the difference when working to ensure every student has an opportunity to succeed, especially in classes like Algebra I. That’s why the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented social distancing restrictions throughout the country. With many students now being advised to stay home and the majority of U.S.-based schools being temporarily closed as part of the nation’s efforts to [...]

Long before babies are capable of learning number words, they typically demonstrate an ability to distinguish a difference in quantities and notice when objects are larger or smaller than one another. It may seem simple, but these early ideas [...]

The increasingly prominent role technology plays in our lives has come to the forefront of education research in recent years for obvious reasons. With a majority of the population now constantly immersed in electronic communication platforms and engaged [...]

The toolkit provides activities and strategies to help schools consider ways to build an understanding of their students’ communities, foster a cultural connection and foster trusting relationships. REL Central In North Dakota and throughout the United States, Native [...]

The Office of Educator Talent has already begun using the information in these reports to enhance our supports for Michigan districts and educators. Jared Robinson In January 2018, Marzano Research visited the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) offices [...]

In late 2018, the Colorado Department of Human Services’ (CDHS’) Office of Early Childhood (OEC) received a $5.8 million Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B–5) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for [...]

Educators in small rural communities face significant challenges in preparing their students for the future, especially when it comes to developing work-based learning programs. Speaking during a recent REL Central at Marzano Research webinar Sarah Bird, curriculum, instruction, [...]

Integrating into a new community can be difficult for anyone, but when you come from a different country and speak a different first language, the challenges can seem daunting. In a recent webinar hosted by REL Central at [...]

Finding quality educational resources for kids age birth to five can be challenging. Developing initiatives that increase access to these resources for educators in Colorado, Kansas, and North Dakota is a main goal of the Regional Educational Laboratory [...]