At WestEd, we understand that our nation’s educators and school systems are looking for research-based, effective approaches to teaching and learning that meet the unprecedented challenges they face today.
As you think about the year ahead, we’ve curated a selection of recent WestEd resources to help your schools and systems to apply rigorous research shown to improve outcomes for students, teachers, families, and communities.
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With deep expertise in education and human development, our experts are available to put these resources into action. Visit our How We Help page to learn how to partner with WestEd to improve outcomes for all students.
Back to School: Overcoming Barriers to Successful Math Teaching and Learning
This Back-to-School Spotlight explores research-informed approaches to improving math instruction, including professional learning, evidence-based interventions, and more.
Reimagining Open House: Connecting Families, Inspiring Learning, Building Community
By Maria Paredes
Learn more about how schools can transform Open Houses into powerful, collaborative family engagement events that build community, foster trust, and support student success.
Bridging Classrooms and Careers by Strengthening K–12 Workforce Connections
This blog post explores three key resources that explore how work-based learning, early career exploration, and K–16 pathways are equipping students with the tools and experiences they need to thrive.
Leading the Way: Building Schools Where Teachers Thrive
This blog post provides insights and resources that education leaders can use as they plan to support, sustain, and retain their teachers.
Let Students Struggle: Preserving Student Agency in the AI Era
By Sarah Quesen
Explore how today’s AI tools are shaping classrooms and what educators can do now to prepare for the future of Artificial General Intelligence in education.
Leveraging District Leadership to Improve Science Education Outcomes
By Jill A. Wertheim
Read this success story of a framework that empowers K–12 education leaders to drive lasting improvements in science education, preparing students for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
Metacognitive Literacy Routines That Support Content Area Learning
Learn more about how metacognitive routines can enhance disciplinary literacy and boost student learning across ELA, social studies, and science, as explored in WestEd’s Leading Together Webinar.
Transforming Early Math and Science Learning Through Count Play Explore
Discover how California’s Count Play Explore initiative is transforming early math and science education by boosting educator confidence and fostering positive learning mindsets from birth through 3rd grade.
Why Disciplinary Literacy Belongs in Elementary Classrooms
By Rachel Tripathy
Explore how introducing disciplinary literacy in elementary classrooms can deepen young students’ thinking, build content knowledge, and lay the foundation for lifelong learning.
Writing for Real: Apprenticing Students as Historians, Storytellers, and Literary Critics | Q&A With Menya Cole and Jenell Krishnan
In this Q&A, Writing Apprenticeship developers, Menya Cole and Jenell Krishnan, reflect on the power of authentic writing to transform classrooms.
Making Dollars Count in Early Childhood Education
Learn how states can expand early education access for children with disabilities through strategic funding, cross-program coordination, and support in this Q&A and WestEd’s Leslie Fox.
Guide on Teacher Workforce Credentialing: A Look Into the Initial License Requirements, Diverse Pathways Into the Teaching Profession, and Reciprocity Policies
By Gabriela Mottesi and Mel Wylen
This guide offers a detailed overview of teacher licensure requirements, alternative pathways, and reciprocity policies across all 50 states and Washington, DC. It serves as a vital resource for educators, policymakers, and educational institutions aiming to improve recruitment, retention, and the overall quality of the teaching workforce.
Building Future-Ready Students: The State of Portraits of a Graduate Frameworks
By Jenna Howard Terrell, Robin Ahigian, Morgan Garvey, and Sarah Barzee
This brief explores how Portraits of a Graduate frameworks are being developed and implemented across the U.S. to build future-ready students.
Joyful Foundational Literacy Skills: PreK–1st Grade
By Pamela Spycher
A practical guide for PreK–1st grade educators on building foundational literacy skills in early learners, with strategies for decoding, encoding, and supporting independent reading and writing.
A Strong Early Math Foundation Helps Students’ Later Academic Achievement
By Kylie Flynn and Ashli-Ann Douglas
This brief shares research-informed strategies for improving math instruction in early childhood contexts and how WestEd can help support states in implementing these strategies.
The Essential Playbook for Family Engagement in Middle School
By Maria Paredes and Melinda Wallace
The Essential Playbook for Family Engagement in Middle School is an essential resource designed for school and district leaders, educators, and departments dedicated to fostering family involvement in middle schools. By providing evidence-based strategies organized around key elements this guide empowers educators to build relational trust with families, ultimately enhancing student achievement and creating impactful connections within the school community.
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