Curriculum-Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Network
Learning Forward’s Curriculum Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Network launched in 2023 with three districts: The School District of Philadelphia (PA), Montgomery County (MD), and Metro Nashville Public Schools (TN). Teams of educators from the three districts are working toward a shared Network goal of increasing the effectiveness of curriculum-based professional learning to positively affect teaching and learning of middle school mathematics for equitable outcomes.
Teams include middle school math teachers from 2-3 schools, math instructional coaches, principals and assistant principals, and district professional learning and curriculum leaders. Each team is undertaking classroom-level Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to test changes they expect will improve their implementation of Illustrative Math. The cycles include making small changes to collaborative planning, instructional routines, and classroom facilitation of student inquiry and dialogue. In their own professional learning, teams experience math lessons the way students do, ensuring that the student perspective informs their ideas about improvement.
The Learning Forward Networks Team facilitates sharing of data and learning from the PDSA cycles across schools and districts, introduces new knowledge and tools, and provides technical assistance and coaching to each of the teams.
Background
The CBPL Network is supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY). The design of the Network is informed by three key anchor resources: Standards for Professional Learning, The Elements: Transforming teaching through curriculum-based professional learning (Short and Hirsh, 2020), and recent research about the state of CBPL by the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL).
The design of the Network benefitted from the input of a 15-person Advisory Team who shared their experience and expertise in math, professional learning, and curriculum implementation to thoughtfully inform the design of the network and recruitment of the district teams.
To support the change in teacher practice and student learning Educators need to engage in curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL).
What is Curriculum-Based Professional Learning?
What is it:
- Professional learning that focuses on the implementation of high-quality instructional materials
- Teachers experience the same kind of inquiry-based learning we expect them to provide their students.
- Rooted in ongoing, active experiences that prompt teachers to change their instructional practices, expand their content knowledge, and challenge their beliefs.
What it is not:
- Sessions focused on orientation to the curriculum or instructional materials
- Professional development disconnected from the curriculum
- Siloed or disconnected curriculum-based professional learning sessions
- Training sessions focused solely on building teacher content knowledge
CBPL Network Advisory Team Members
Before the network launched, Learning Forward assembled an Advisory Team comprised of experts in change management, curriculum implementation, mathematics instruction, leadership, equity, research and measurement, policy, and dissemination to inform the processes, strategies, and cadence of the Network. We appreciate their engagement from January-May 2023.
- Jody Bintz, Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships & Professional Learning, BSCS
- Frederick Brown, President & CEO, Learning Forward
- Elizabeth Chu , Executive Director, Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL)
- William (Bill) Crombie, Director, Professional Development, Algebra Project
- Phil Daro, Principal Author, Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP) Institute
- Lacey Eckels, Deeper Learning Specialist, Ohio Valley Education Cooperative (OVEC)
- Rachel Garrett, Principal Researcher, American Institutes for Research (AIR)
- Katy Green, Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness and Professional Learning, Tulsa Public Schools
- Nancy Gutierrez, President & CEO, NYC Leadership Academy
- Eric Hirsch, Founding Executive Director, EdReports
- Stephanie Hirsh, Managing Partner, Hirsh Holdings
- Tracy Meloy, Chief Leadership and Strategy Officer, Northshore School District, WA
- John Staley, Coordinator, Baltimore County Public Schools
- Angela Ward, CEO/President, 2Ward Equity
Learning Forward is currently seeking funding to sustain and extend the collaborative work of the CBPL Network.
