Case Studies
Real Schools. Real Results.Why Professional Development AND Coaching?
Studies have shown that less than 10% of what was taught during a workshop is retained and implemented.
At Strategic Intervention Solutions, every professional development day is scheduled with a corresponding day of coaching to help teachers implement what they have learned in their classrooms.
As the following three case studies clearly demonstrate, this combination is the key to true transformation for your teachers and students.
L'Anse Area Schools
Rural UP district receives hands-on instruction and sees K-5 test scores rise.
Engagement Timeframe: 2016-present
The Situation
When L’Anse Area School District reached out to Strategic Intervention Solutions (SIS), they were grappling with low state math test scores and struggling to adapt to the demanding Eureka Math program. Due to their rural Upper Peninsula setting, the teachers lacked the in-person professional development to go beyond checking the boxes of their highly scripted curriculum.
The Goal
To raise student achievement in mathematics, particularly state test scores, and implement effective 21st-century math instruction strategies in L’Anse Area Schools.
The SIS4Teachers Approach
SIS stepped in with a hands-on approach, providing in-person professional development and classroom coaching to address these challenges. Areas of emphasis included numeracy development and how it relates to reading, implementing number talks, and fostering math discourse, particularly in lower grades.
Over several years, SIS’s tailored and in-person interventions led to substantial improvements.
Using data to inform instruction
Integrating the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach
Differentiating instruction effectively.
The Results
2nd Graders NWEA Scores
K-2nd: As teachers mastered numeracy development, students’ average RIT scores on the NWEA test grew to 6.3 points above the national norm.
3rd Grade M-STEP
3rd: L’Anse moved from being 15% below the state and local ISD proficiency levels in 2015-2016 to exceeding both by 2022-2023.
5th Grade M-STEP
5th: The proficiency gap with the state closed significantly, showing annual improvements, even as statewide proficiency percentages declined.
A Strong Foundation for Future Success
Strategic Intervention Solutions was critical in transforming math education at L’Anse Schools. Through personalized, in-person professional development, effective coaching, and strategic curriculum mapping, SIS helped L’Anse achieve substantial and sustained improvements in math performance, setting a strong foundation for future success.
Before working with SIS, we were looking to improve our standardized test scores for math and find data-driven recommendations for curriculum. As an administrator, I felt that they needed guidance on determining which components were essential and assessed by standardized tests, but I didn’t know how to guide them properly. Through SIS’s resources, support, and practical tools – such as games, posters, curriculum outlines, and assessments – my teachers are now more confident in the material they teach AND our test scores have improved!
Saginaw Township Community Schools
The power of changing teachers’ mindsets about math instruction.
Engagement Timeframe: 2020-present
The Situation
Saginaw Township Schools was struggling with low math achievement, particularly on the M-STEP and NWEA state tests. There were several factors contributing to this, including a disconnect between the curriculum and state standards, a focus on procedural teaching over problem-solving, and a lack of math discourse in classrooms.
The Goal
To address and rectify the persistent failures in math education, enhance teacher capabilities, and improve student performance on state assessments and math growth.
The SIS4Teachers Approach
Strategic Intervention Solutions (SIS) was brought in to address these issues. They started by working with stakeholders to understand the problems and develop a plan. This plan included professional development for teachers on 21st-century math strategies, coaching sessions to support implementation, and a summer school program for at-risk students.
Implementation Steps:
Initial Engagement (2020-2021)
Summer School Program (2021)
Professional Development and Coaching (2021-2022)
Ongoing Support (2022-2023)
Curriculum Alignment (2023-2024)
The Results
4th Grade NWEA Scores
By the end of the 2023-24 school year, STCS’s RIT scores had grown an impressive 17 points, exceeding even the national norm’s 11 point increase, highlighting the program’s success.
A Strong Foundation for Future Success
The results of this work are still emerging, but there have been some early successes. Fourth-grade students, who had been receiving SIS support since second grade, significantly outperformed the national norm on the NWEA. The district has also seen a change in teachers’ and students’ mindsets about math.
Our math program was outdated and no one was on the same page. As an administrator, I felt frustrated. Math is not my area of expertise, so it was difficult to provide support to my teachers. Working with SIS was a huge relief – not only for myself but also for my teachers, coaches, and intervention staff. They taught us new math strategies, how to use manipulatives, how to manage the classroom, and supported us in creating a calendar so that our textbook series was a tool, not a curriculum. Now, our teachers are excited about the growth they are seeing their students make, and they feel supported with resources they know how to use!
Standish-Sterling Community School District
Third and fourth grader math performance rises to the top.
Engagement Timeframe: 2016-2023
The Situation
In 2017-2018, Standish-Sterling Community School District faced dropping math scores, ranking lowest in their intermediate school district. Despite faithfully following McGraw Hill’s My Math K-5 curriculum, teachers still struggled to meet diverse student needs, resulting in stagnant M-STEP test performance. Seeking a turnaround, the district enlisted Strategic Intervention Solutions, Inc. (SIS).
The Goal
The goal of the engagement was to improve student achievement in mathematics at Standish-Sterling Schools, particularly on the state M-STEP test, and to implement 21st- century math instruction techniques effectively.
The SIS4Teachers Approach
By 2022-2023, Standish-Sterling had improved from the lowest-performing school to being within 3% of the top- rated school, with significant gains in third and fourth-grade proficiency rates.
SIS’s customized, student-centered approach revolutionized math education in the district.
In partnership with highly dedicated faculty and staff at Standish- Sterling, SIS transformed the school’s math instruction in the following ways:
Enhanced teachers' understanding of numeracy and number sense.
Integrating new strategies with the existing curriculum.
Provided extensive tailored professional development.
The Results
3rd Grade M-STEP
The proficiency rate nearly doubled from 2017-2018 to 2018-2019.
4th Grade M-STEP
Moved from the middle of the pack in 2019 to the second-highest proficiency rate in the area by 2023.
A Strong Foundation for Future Success
Standish-Sterling went from being the lowest-performing school in their ISD in 2017-2018 to being less than 3% behind the top-rated school by 2022-2023. The focus on building strong numeracy foundations in early grades led to better number sense and higher math achievement in later grades. SIS’s approach helped the district avoid the pitfalls of a “one size fits all” curriculum, enabling teachers to utilize best practices and create a vertically aligned curriculum that met students’ needs.
When we hired SIS, we were seeking sustainable strategies to empower our teachers in math instruction. Their guidance exceeded our expectations, providing invaluable support over the years. SIS stood out from competitors by offering tailored expertise and continuous engagement.
Their impact is evident in the transformed confidence of our teachers and the enriched culture of math education in our building. Conversations are now richer, and educators embrace hands-on learning with newfound comfort and enthusiasm. SIS has truly been instrumental in shaping our math curriculum and fostering a positive teaching environment.
It’s time to move beyond outdated teaching methods and increasingly disengaged students.
By partnering with our team at Strategic Intervention Solutions, Inc., you can step into a future with confident teachers who equip and inspire their students to excel in math.
Thousands of K-12 schools struggle to meet math performance standards, leaving them at a loss for how to improve results.
Strategic Intervention Solutions provides professional development, coaching, and classroom resources to help teachers confidently equip their students to excel in math.
