How High-Quality PD Helps Districts Achieve Math & Literacy Goals
Now that the school year is well underway, educators and students are focused on their shared goal of academic achievement. By this point, many educators have likely identified patterns of student success and areas where learning gaps need to be addressed.
These learning trends align with the broader objectives and goals that many districts strive to achieve, particularly in math and literacy. With scores for both subjects among 13-year-olds declining again in 2023, high-quality professional development (PD) focused on math and literacy has become a proven solution to reverse these trends.
District Math Objectives
Districts aiming to improve math performance often focus on several key initiatives:
- Increasing math proficiency levels
- Reducing achievement gaps
- Promoting problem-solving skills
Professional development designed specifically for math instruction has been shown to improve student outcomes. A 2021 study in Teaching and Teacher Education revealed that students whose teachers participated in pedagogy-focused PD improved their math scores by 25%. This demonstrates the connection between teacher professional learning and positive student outcomes. Educators who are confident, knowledgeable, and equipped with effective tools can enhance student achievement.
District Literacy Objectives
Similar to math, most districts set objectives to improve literacy:
- Increasing reading proficiency
- Enhancing writing skills
- Integrating literacy across the curriculum
- Closing literacy gaps
High-quality professional development in literacy has also been linked to improved student outcomes. Studies have shown that K-8 students achieve significant reading improvement when their teachers participate in effective PD. Additionally, the length and quality of PD matter—teachers who received at least 14 hours of literacy-focused PD saw their students make notable gains in reading performance.
The Right PD Can Impact Student Math & Literacy Achievement
While math and literacy PD differ in content, the core elements of high-quality professional development remain consistent. Effective PD emphasizes best practices, improves instructional quality, and builds educator confidence.
Math-Focused PD
Math PD should focus on core competencies, instructional practices, deep math understanding, and problem-solving skills. Catapult Learning’s math professional development provides:
- Dedicated workshops and institutes covering dozens of math-specific topics
- Job-embedded coaching
- Asynchronous online learning to reinforce key concepts
These tools empower educators to deliver confident, effective math instruction that leads to improved student performance.
Literacy-Focused PD
Catapult Learning’s literacy professional development is rooted in the Science of Reading and helps educators:
- Develop best practices
- Improve instructional quality
- Implement effective literacy curricula
Literacy PD includes workshops, institutes covering topics like word study and reading comprehension, job-embedded coaching, and asynchronous online learning.
Partnering with Catapult Learning
For over 45 years, Catapult Learning has been providing effective professional development to districts across the country. To learn more about how we can support your educators and help achieve your district’s math and literacy goals, visit Catapult Learning’s Professional Development.
