Race to the Top and Sustainability of Innovations: A Case of Lesson Study in Florida

• In Event: Implementation of Education Policies to Improve School- and System-Level Leadership

Abstract

The RTTT mobilized state-led innovations across the country, yet little is known about how these innovations were sustained after the funding ended and what state and district capacity is needed to sustain them. Focusing on a case of lesson study—an innovative professional learning approach in Florida and analyzing policy documents and survey data, we found that the state approach to sustaining lesson study was limited and only one third of the districts could sustain lesson study. These districts were more likely to continue to provide substitute funding, study effective lesson study process and facilitation, had stable leadership, and integrated lesson study through continued expectation as part of teacher evaluation and more focused offerings of professional learning opportunities.

Authors

• Motoko Akiba, Florida State University

• Cassandra Howard