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.

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Impact Stories
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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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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, Financial Management, School Improvement, Equity in Education, Summer & Out-of-School Time
  • Center or Affiliate: National Comprehensive Center
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, Pandemic Relief/ESSER Funds, SEA Operations & Performance Management
  • State(s): Missouri
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Specific Population Groups, American Indian/Alaska Native, Student & Staff Well-Being
  • State(s): Oregon
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, Pandemic Relief/ESSER Funds, Student & Staff Well-Being
  • State(s): West Virginia
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Specific Population Groups, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander
  • State(s): Hawaii
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
New Framework Unites States, Districts, and Tribes to Improve Education for Native Students  
Circles of Reflection, developed by National Comprehensive Center, represents a new approach aimed at supporting collaboration between state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and Tribal educational departments (TEDs) to lift Native voices and address Native students’ needs.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Specific Population Groups, American Indian/Alaska Native
  • State(s): Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin
  • Center or Affiliate: National Comprehensive Center
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Workforce, Preparation & Licensure, Professional Development, Recruitment
  • State(s): Indiana
  • Center or Affiliate: Region 8 Comprehensive Center
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.
  • Topic(s): Student & Staff Well-Being, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • State(s): Ohio
  • Center or Affiliate: Region 8 Comprehensive Center
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.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Student & Staff Well-Being, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
  • State(s): Louisiana
  • Center or Affiliate: Region 14 Comprehensive Center
Team Effort Launches Comprehensive Collection of Mental Health Supports for Texas Students
The need for mental health resources in Texas has outpaced what is currently available. To meet that need, the Region 14 Comprehensive Center is supporting the Texas Education agency in building statewide, school-based mental health supports to ensure students, families, schools, and districts have access to the tools and resources necessary to address mental and behavioral health needs effectively.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Student & Staff Well-Being, School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health
  • State(s): Texas
  • Center or Affiliate: Region 14 Comprehensive Center
Grant Extends Learning Time for Over 11,000 Students in Ohio
The Ohio state education agency collaborated with 115 districts and schools to extend learning into the summer, allowing students to solve STEM problems, explore their communities, and receive college and career counseling.
  • Topic(s): Summer & Out-of-School Time, Teaching & Learning, College & Career Preparation, Mathematics/STEM/Computer Science
  • State(s): Ohio
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
Louisiana Sees Its Most Significant Academic Results Since 2016
Louisiana saw a 3 percent increase in math and English language arts and a 2 percent increase in science. Students have recovered about half of their learning loss and are poised to accelerate forward.
  • Topic(s): Teaching & Learning, Accelerated Learning/Tutoring, Literacy, Mathematics/STEM/Computer Science
  • State(s): Louisiana
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
Alabama Students and Teachers Are Excited to be Back in the Classroom
Test results show students are recovering academically after the pandemic and are on the right path, moving forward.
  • Topic(s): Teaching & Learning, Accelerated Learning/Tutoring
  • State(s): Alabama
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
Rekindling Curiosity Program Makes Camp Affordable to Every Student in New Hampshire
Every student in New Hampshire can run, play, and have fun at camp during the summer thanks to the Rekindling Curiosity Program.
  • Topic(s): Summer & Out-of-School Time
  • State(s): New Hampshire
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO
Grant Allows Colorado School Leadership Team to Develop K–3 Standards-Aligned Math Curriculum
After a dramatic drop in the first assessment results for math and English language arts post-pandemic, COVID-relief dollars became grants for schools and districts focusing on curriculum.
  • Topic(s): Education Systems & Federal Requirements, SEA Operations & Performance Management, Teaching & Learning, Assessment
  • State(s): Colorado
  • Center or Affiliate: CCSSO