INITIATIVE

CORE-PACE Research Partnership

CORE-PACE Research Partnership

In October 2015, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) and the CORE Districts launched the CORE-PACE Research Partnership. The CORE districts (Fresno, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento City, San Francisco, and Santa Ana Unified School Districts) together serve nearly a million students and utilize a unique multiple measures data system to work together to improve student outcomes. Our research aims to deepen their learning, while sharing lessons more broadly to accelerate improvement across the state. Our work falls into three main areas: continuous improvement, social-emotional learning, and making use of multiple measures of student and school performance.

    Recent Initiative Publications
    School Differences in Social–Emotional Learning Gains: Findings From the First Large-Scale Panel Survey of Students
    Findings From the First Large-Scale Panel Survey of Students
    This article discusses the use of standardized tests as the primary tool for assessing school-level growth in student outcomes, despite the emerging importance of social-emotional learning (SEL). It presents results from large-scale surveys of…
    Publication cover: A Student-Centered Culture of Improvement
    The Case of Garden Grove Unified School District
    This case study explores the Garden Grove Unified School District's culture of improvement through four key structures and processes, including consistent goals, data-driven reform, vertical and horizontal structures, and prioritization of people.…
    Publication cover: Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap for Continuous Improvement
    The Case of Long Beach Unified School District
    The CORE-PACE Research Partnership's report on Long Beach Unified School District highlights lessons learned from their continuous improvement approach to improving classroom instruction. This report describes four key practices that have led to…
    Publication cover: Leadership that Supports Continuous Improvement
    The Case of Ayer Elementary
    A case study of Ayer Elementary School in Fresno, California, reveals leadership practices that foster continuous improvement in education. The report identifies three lessons for supporting improvement in other schools: access to district resources…