Institute for Strategic Leadership and Learning
Education Research and Policy Consulting
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Education Research and Policy Consulting
Our mission is to promote innovation and meaningful change in public education through strategic leadership and learning within and across all levels of the education system. We believe that all members of society - students, parents, educators, organizations and policymakers - have an important role to play in developing and implementing strategies that will improve educational outcomes for all.
We work to cultivate strategic leadership and learning, construct a policy environment conducive to innovation and successful implementation of effective strategies, and engage in meaningful evaluations of the various strategies and interventions employed to support teaching and learning.
Our work is guided by a set of core principles and a continually refined set of primary source documents and research. We invite you to review our principles and the research that guides our work.
Building upon a research-based set of Turnaround Practices, we specialize in working with states, districts, and individual schools to engage in strategic planning (e.g., root cause analysis, needs assessment) and the development of strategic objectives and actions leading to accelerated improvement. We use networks as a mechanism for acc
Building upon a research-based set of Turnaround Practices, we specialize in working with states, districts, and individual schools to engage in strategic planning (e.g., root cause analysis, needs assessment) and the development of strategic objectives and actions leading to accelerated improvement. We use networks as a mechanism for accelerating learning and building the leadership capacity of individuals and organizations to support sustainable improvement. Because context matters, we customize our work to build upon the context, needs, and assets of our clients
We work with leaders across the education system (NGOs, states, districts, schools) and incorporate systems thinking into the design of accountability systems, support systems, and policies that incentive the use and sharing of evidence-based best practices so that all students are able to thrive and succeed in school and through college
We work with leaders across the education system (NGOs, states, districts, schools) and incorporate systems thinking into the design of accountability systems, support systems, and policies that incentive the use and sharing of evidence-based best practices so that all students are able to thrive and succeed in school and through college and career. We focus on urban and high poverty locales, emphasizing strategies for closing achievement gaps. We incorporate Improvement Science methodology into our work, building the capacity of leaders and teachers to successfully design and implement solutions.
We provide detailed analysis and evaluations of state and federal education policies and regulations as they impact local improvement efforts, focusing on how policies are interpreted and enacted by individuals across the education system. Using our analysis as a starting point, we work with educational leaders to consider how to bes
We provide detailed analysis and evaluations of state and federal education policies and regulations as they impact local improvement efforts, focusing on how policies are interpreted and enacted by individuals across the education system. Using our analysis as a starting point, we work with educational leaders to consider how to best construct, adapt, utilize and communicate education policies so as to create a productive policy environment that supports innovation and transformational change.
Over the past 15 years, INSTLL has worked closely with multiple state departments of education and local school districts to develop and enact strategies leading to accelerated improvement in student achievement. In collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, we researched and co-developed a set of Turnaround Practices that provide a framework for planning and support, including a variety of research and practice-based publications and guides.
See our District and School Improvement page for additional information.
Through our work, we have developed multiple tools, guidance, processes and rubrics to support districts engaged in significant improvement efforts, including a Framework for District Improvement.
Our work over the past 10 years has focused on the use of leadership networking and improvement science methodology to accelerate improvement efforts within and across school districts.
District Systems: In 2025, INSTLL completed a seven-year partnership with a large urban school district that resulted in significant improvement and positive changes in district organization and student achievement, including the development of a district framework for improvement. Through this collaborative partnership, which involved multi-year partnerships with 16 schools, we developed and offer a multi-year set of professional development and networking supports designed to engage district schools, school leaders, and coaches and teachers in a comprehensive approach to improving instruction and building capacity for sustainable improvement. Focus areas include culturally responsive practices, teaming and professional learning communities, and use of data to drive instructional improvement.
State Systems: Between 2023 and 2025, INSTLL and Brett Lane served as the Strategic Facilitator for two Maryland districts, providing facilitative, consultative, strategic planning, and technical support in implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (the Blueprint). The Blueprint is a comprehensive statewide policy initiative intended to dramatic change and improve K-16 education across the state [see Blueprint]. The Blueprint is being implemented in all 24 school districts and covers all aspects of Pre-K to 12 public education.
District Networking: INSTLL recently completed a multi-year partnership with a network of five urban districts and over 20 schools working on a shared problem of practice and we have since expanded this work by focusing on building networks of schools within districts. The five-district Gateway to College Success initiative led to the publication of a policy brief, Using Networked Improvement Communities to Accelerate Improvement, and a detailed Technical Report that provides the research and evidence base for the brief. school turnaround
Additional information on our approach to systems design and networking is provided on our Systems Improvement page, including a preview of the suite of networking and improvement science tools and processes we are using, and hope to use with districts interested in this approach to improvement.
Three recent evaluation reports showcase our approach to providing customized and rigorous evaluation support to organizations, state departments of education, and districts:
Additional information on our approach to evaluation and policy development is provided on our Evaluation and Policy Analysis page, including description of our approach to evaluation and how we work with states and district to analyze and construct policy that incentives accelerated improvement among district and schools.
We will respond directly to inquiries within 24 hours.
Please feel free to email directly to brett.lane@instll.com