Choosing instructional materials wisely is one of the most important jobs education leaders and teachers have, perhaps now more than ever. Unfinished academic instruction resulting from the COVID-19 crisis demands better ways to reignite student engagement and accelerate learning. At the same time, the disparate impact of the pandemic on students of color and growing efforts to quash discussions about systemic racism in schools reveals an urgent need to approach this work through a racial equity lens. A new report from New America argues that embracing high-quality instructional materials that are both rigorous and relevant is crucial to addressing these priorities.
Promising Strategies highlighted in the report include the following:
- Develop a shared instructional vision rooted in CRSE
- Plan for transparent and inclusive selections processes
- Evaluate materials with a focus on CRSE
- Prioritize materials that invite modification and localization
- Optimize the use of supplementary materials
- Invest heavily in professional learning and coaching
- Incentivize the adoption of rigorous and relevant materials
- Foster a supportive policy environment
