Deans for Impact

10/13/2026

“The results from this pilot are striking.”

That’s how the CCSSO - The Council of Chief State School Officers sums up its new report on embedding the science of reading and high-quality instructional materials into teacher preparation across multiple states. We’re proud that the open-source course modules DFI created were at the heart of this effort.

Huge credit to the teacher-educators who partnered with us on this work. States like Tennessee, Rhode Island, and New Mexico are now focused on scaling and sustaining these shifts.

Read the report:

This brief aims to inform state leaders about the results of a novel approach to advancing teacher preparation practices that was piloted by a workgroup of the Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO) High-Quality Instructional Materials and Professional Development (IMPD) Network. The appr...

10/06/2026

Tutoring is a win for both sides of the classroom: it supports student learning and gives teacher-candidates hands-on practice building instructional skills before they lead their own. That's why we continue to champion policies that integrate tutoring into high-quality teacher preparation.

This , hear from aspiring teachers about how tutoring has shaped their practice and set them up for stronger starts to their teaching careers.

10/05/2026

Applications for the 2027-28 Impact Academy cohort are open!

Who should apply for the Impact Academy?

“Those who are in leadership positions who are willing to take that step back and to examine their practices and be a little bit vulnerable,” says 2025 alumna Laura Saylor.

The Impact Academy offers more than leadership development. This yearlong fellowship is designed specifically for deans and executive directors of teacher-preparation programs and helps them address challenges unique to their roles. Fellows learn alongside peers and receive the resources and support to drive lasting change in their programs.

Hear how the Impact Academy has strengthened the leadership journeys of alumni Charlotte Wright, Theresa Taber Doughty, and Doug Cost, and submit your application today: https://www.deansforimpact.org/programming/for-educator-preparation-leaders/impact-academy

10/01/2026

We're excited to present at the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) / New York State Association of Teacher Educators conference later this month.

We'll be co-presenting with faculty from The City University of New York and Touro University, partners in our New York Path Forward Educator Preparation Program pilot. Launched last year, the initiative strengthens teacher-prep coursework around evidence-based literacy practices, preparing candidates to teach reading and writing to all PK-12 students across NYC schools.

Our interactive session will cover:
📚️ How faculty have revised course syllabi and assignments to improve practice-based learning experiences
✍️ Guidance for designing, implementing, and aligning these assignments to a program's learning progression
💪 How this work prepares candidates for the realities of today's classrooms

Learn more and register here: https://nysatenyacte2026.sched.com/

09/30/2026

What does it actually take to implement a significant teacher-prep policy at scale?

Texas's House Bill 2 (HB2) and its PREP Allotment mark an unprecedented investment in teacher preparation, and other states are watching closely as ed-prep programs begin to implement the bill’s requirements. Our new report, "All In on Quality Preparation in Texas," surveyed Texas ed-prep programs across the state, alongside interviews, focus groups, and site visits to four institutions on the opportunities and complexities of implementation.

The report highlights four big takeaways, paired with concrete recommendations for state, philanthropic, and advocacy leaders.

Read the full report: https://www.deansforimpact.org/tools-and-resources/all-in-on-quality-preparation-in-texas

09/28/2026

On October 22 at 11 a.m. PDT, join the NACCTEP Fall Symposium, where we’ll present on using the science of learning to strengthen teacher preparation. We'll examine common beliefs about how students learn, connect them to the research, and see what those ideas look like in actual teacher preparation courses.

Bring an assignment, activity, or lesson from your program, and leave with concrete ways to strengthen it while keeping your existing course competencies and outcomes at the center. You'll also walk away with a toolkit for continuing this work with your faculty.

Save your seat: https://www.nacctep.org/professional-development-events/fall-institutes/2026-fall-institute

09/24/2026

In Texas, House Bill 2 and its PREP Allotment have opened new funding streams and new complexities for teacher pathways. Our two-part series looks at how teacher-preparation programs are navigating both.

In part two, we spoke with Rebecca Morales Saiz, Executive Director of Educator Preparation Pathways at Lone Star College, who is leading the design of a new bachelor's pathway through thoughtful partnership with PK-12 districts and shaped by workforce needs.

The series also features ed-prep leaders from Sam Houston State University and Houston Independent School District working to make high-quality teacher preparation accessible across Texas, plus reflections from teacher candidates themselves on what these opportunities mean for their futures and their students.

Read their stories here: https://www.deansforimpact.org/about/news-and-blog/2026/09/03/making-quality-accessible-how-houston-teacher-pathways-are-responding-to-new-hb2-funding-part-ii

09/23/2026

We're excited to present at the 6th Annual Rocky Mountain Mind, Brain & Education Conference next month at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science! Our Senior Director of Communications, Cece Zhou, will lead a session titled "The Stories We Tell about Learning: Why Public Discourse Matters for Instruction."

How we talk about classroom instruction shapes public understanding of education policy and change efforts and, ultimately, the future of teaching and learning. The session will examine how cognitive science concepts influence learning at both the student and teacher levels. Participants will also explore case studies to see how research, media, advocacy, policy, and community conversations shape public understanding and galvanize action.

Learn more and register below. We hope to connect with you in Denver!

https://www.dmns.org/learn/tpd/events-and-conferences/rocky-mountain-mind-brain-education-conference/

09/21/2026

How can educators apply cognitive science research to classroom practice?

Our VP of Growth and Impact, Tracey Weinstein, tackles that question in a new guest post for Edutopia, breaking down the six core questions from our recently updated report, The Science of Learning, Second Edition, with concrete examples of how to apply principles to instructional decision-making.

Read Tracey's piece here:

A new report covers evidence about how students learn and offers steps teachers can take to ensure that their instruction supports learning.

09/17/2026

How do students learn to take charge of their own learning?

The Science of Learning, Second Edition includes a new section focused on how teachers can support students to learn more effectively and independently over time. Grounded in cognitive science research, this section breaks self-directed learning down into three key principles:

🔄 Self-regulated learning is cyclical - it's an ongoing process of planning and reflection

💪 Struggle is productive - students build lasting understanding by putting in effort and pushing through challenges, not by avoiding them

🧠 Effective habits sustain learning - the right routines keep self-regulated learning going, even on days when student motivation runs low

Our report offers guidance on how to bring these principles into the classroom and the common pitfalls to watch for.

How are you putting these principles into practice with teachers or students? Tell us in the comments below.

Download the full report: https://www.deansforimpact.org/tools-and-resources/the-science-of-learning