Impact Stories
How do we know we’re making an impact? The CCNetwork’s Impact Stories illustrate the results of our work by celebrating ingenuity and collaboration and highlighting moments that sparked change in education. Written by National Comprehensive Center and Regional Comprehensive Center staff, these stories detail key strategies, important lessons, and promising solutions emerging from the CCNetwork's work with SEAs and LEAs across the country. We also share success stories of CCSSO members here as well to elevate additional examples of ways states and jurisdictions are making an impact in education. Filter by topic, Center, or state/jurisdiction to gain new ideas and to cheer for the great work happening in your area.
Featured Impact Stories
National Center Forms Communities of Practice to Tackle Education’s Biggest Post-Pandemic Challenges
The National Comprehensive Center brought together state education agency teams to function as Communities of Practice to focus on critical educational issues related to equity, out-of-school time programming, and use of American Rescue Plan funds.
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Redesigning the Educator Workforce in Montana
Across Montana, students are experiencing a shortage of highly qualified, effective teachers. To address this complex issue, Montana’s Office of Public Instruction (OPI) partnered with the Region 17 Comprehensive Center to explore a teacher residency project that would redesign how people are prepared to join the educator workforce. The program is designed to help prospective teachers earn their degrees, develop instructional skills, and create lasting connections in communities across the state.
Kentucky Community Joins Forces to Become Virtual Problem Solvers
Districts and schools must constantly address complex challenges that require answering tough questions like, "What is the root cause of the problem?" and "How do we begin to tackle it?" The Kentucky Department of Education, through the support of the Region 5 Comprehensive Center, has adopted a collaborative and systemic continuous improvement approach that leverages the expertise of educators and experts, called the "Networked Improvement Community.”
Consistent Coaching Benefits Alabama’s Teachers and Students
The ability for teachers to receive support from a well-trained coach is not something the Alabama State Department of Education (ASDE) wanted to leave to chance. Through support from the Region 7 Comprehensive Center, ASDE created a consistent coaching framework that included a common vision and language for coaching called the “Alabama Coaching Framework.”
West Virginia Boosts Teacher Numbers with Fast Track to Teaching
Like many states across the nation, West Virginia had to identify ways to increase their teacher pipeline to meet both short and long-term staffing needs. A collaboration between the Region 5 Comprehensive Center, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and the West Virginia Department of Education has resulted in the implementation of the “Educator Preparation Taskforce.” One successful first step of that work has been the addition of teacher candidates from their high schools through their “Grow Your Own Pathway” program.
Louisiana Gets "Lean," Optimizing Operations to Better Serve Students
The Louisiana Department of Education processes nearly 700 service contracts each year. Streamlining this procedure would greatly impact numerous facets of the agency. The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with the Region 14 Comprehensive Center, is implementing an innovative strategy into everyday practice to get schools and students the services they need quickly and efficiently.
Ohio Leverages a Whole Child Framework to Create Dynamic Systems of Change
To address children’s comprehensive needs, the Ohio Department of Education adopted a Whole Child Framework that considers the needs and dimensions of wellness that support students in achieving healthy and positive outcomes. Partners and collaborative teams helped drive this effort, with support from the Region 8 Comprehensive Center. This framework serves as a catalyst for districts to shift their perspective and approach to help children by focusing on multiple dimensions of child well-being.
National Center Forms Communities of Practice to Tackle Education’s Biggest Post-Pandemic Challenges
The National Comprehensive Center brought together state education agency teams to function as Communities of Practice to focus on critical educational issues related to equity, out-of-school time programming, and use of American Rescue Plan funds.
Indiana’s GYO Program Addresses All-Time High Teacher Shortage
With 96% of districts reporting a shortage of educators, the Indiana Department of Education established a Grow Your Own program by recruiting high school students interested in the profession. A pilot helped state leaders identify and overcome challenges, paving the way for statewide expansion. The state looked to the Region 8 Comprehensive Center to coach department staff on effective recruitment and retention strategies and deliver mentor training to 60 teachers working with participants.
The Southwest Rallies for Rural Education Through Community of Practice
Rural schools face unique and complex challenges and opportunities specific to rural context. Recognizing this, the Region 15 Comprehensive Center has designed and facilitates a Community of Practice (CoP) that is focused specifically on rural education in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The goals of the CoP are to share information, build trusting and supportive networks, and co-construct systemic solutions to address the challenges facing education in rural settings.
Hawaii's Students Achieve Academic Gains Across Core Subjects
Hawaii’s state education superintendent sees the benefits of the state’s return to in-person learning.
New Summer Programs in West Virginia Deliver Academic and Social-Emotional Results
Local education agencies in West Virginia spent ESSER II dollars on summer learning and enrichment. In 2021, 30,000 students were served, and the majority maintained or gained proficiency in ELA and math.
Grow Your Own Recruitment Programs Quadruple in Missouri Districts
Local teacher recruitment efforts have been a focus in Missouri for more than 5 years. COVID relief funds brought the model to hundreds more districts across the state.
Oregon Addresses Broad Spectrum of Needs, Including Well-Being Services
Oregon’s state education agency directed funds to three key needs: physical and mental health services, transitions for incoming kindergarteners, and post-pandemic revitalization in Tribal nations.
North Carolina Leads the Nation in K–3 Literacy
The end of the year reading diagnostic data revealed North Carolina K–3 students were outpacing the rest of the nation thanks to efforts made with COVID relief funds.
Recovery Money Allows North Dakota to Train, Tutor, and Advance
North Dakota is using the recovery money to train school board members, hire math specialists, and offer more advanced placement classes to high school students.
