Research may evoke the idea of multiyear studies, but educators do not necessarily need to wait years to learn from evidence. Continuous improvement cycles provide a way for educators to test and refine practices or programs rapidly in real time. To assist educators in using this approach, Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest rounded up REL resources on continuous improvement, including the use of improvement science and networked improvement communities to support the process.

Continuous improvement cycles

• For district and school administrators, a REL Midwest Ask A REL reference desk response compiles research on school leaders’ roles in supporting continuous improvement.
• REL Northeast and Islands (NEI) has a suite of resources on continuous improvement cycles:
  • Videos on engaging in continuous improvement cycles from a school’s perspective and the perspective of educators.
  • Video highlighting REL NEI’s work with a rural elementary school using continuous improvement to support math instruction.
  • Webinar on the implications of accounting for “ever-English learner students” in continuous improvement efforts.
• REL West also has developed a suite of resources to support continuous improvement, including a webinar on using learning huddles to improve teaching and learning and an infographic on using inquiry cycles in professional learning communities to improve instruction.

Improvement science

• Improvement science is the use of disciplined approaches, such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, to test and refine solutions to specific problems of practice. A REL Central Ask A REL response compiles recent research reports and articles on the effectiveness of implementation science in connecting research to practice.
• A REL Mid-Atlantic presentation highlights lessons learned helping a Philadelphia high school use improvement science, including the process of building improvement teams, defining problems, and identifying data to use for improvement.
• Three REL West resources introduce and provide system perspectives on improvement science:
  • Blog post providing an introduction to improvement science and its use in addressing pressing problems in education.
  • Audio interview featuring one district’s vision and use of improvement science.
  • Infographic on using improvement science to understand problems in school systems.

Networked improvement communities

• Educators, researchers, and others can form networked improvement communities (NICs) to provide a structure for implementing continuous improvement cycles. REL Midwest has developed a range of resources on NICs and continuous improvement:
  • From 2017 to 2019, REL Midwest facilitated the Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community (Iowa NIC) to support the effective use of education technology in rural schools. Members conducted surveys and analyzed school data to understand teachers’ perceptions and use of technology in the classroom. Iowa NIC resources include a webinar on how to use NICs to study high-priority questions about education practice; training materials on root cause analysis, aim statements, and PDSA cycles; and a blog post summarizing the Iowa NIC’s impact.
  • Looking for more information about the components of NICs? REL Midwest hosted a training on establishing an NIC, including key NIC components and strategies.
  • A video shows how REL Midwest, the Minnesota Department of Education, and school leaders formed an NIC to improve graduation rates at alternative high schools. This work is continuing in the 2020/21 school year with a new cohort of rural educators and train-the-trainer sessions for the first cohort.
  • A blog post highlights lessons learned from several REL Midwest NICs over the years.
• A REL Southwest blog series spotlights the Southwest Networked Improvement Communities research partnership, which supports the use of NICs and continuous improvement as part of Oklahoma’s Champions of Excellence initiative promoting academic excellence and safe and supportive schools:
  • Fostering the champion that students (and schools) deserve
  • Helping students thrive through Oklahoma Excel: Stories from a networked improvement community
  • Creating a culture of continuous improvement through Oklahoma Excel