Jason Matheny President and Chief Executive Officer at RAND | Rand Corporation
Instructional materials, such as textbooks and digital resources, are a key part of K–12 education in the United States. Traditionally, local school districts have made decisions about which instructional materials to use, aiming to meet the specific needs of their students and educators. However, this decentralized system has faced criticism for creating inefficiencies and uneven quality across different districts.
In recent years, state education agencies have become more involved in guiding the selection of instructional materials. Their efforts include promoting state-approved resources and offering professional learning opportunities that align with state standards. This shift is intended to improve classroom instruction by ensuring better alignment between educational materials and learning goals.
The High-Quality Instructional Materials and Professional Development (IMPD) Network is one initiative supporting these changes. The IMPD Network offers member states resources such as a dedicated coach, structured in-person meetings led by network leadership, and chances for peer learning among states. These supports are designed to help policymakers expand access to high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and professional development opportunities for teachers.
A new report documents how the IMPD Network assists policymakers in its member states. It also examines whether these supports have led to increased availability of high-quality instructional materials and professional learning opportunities for teachers.
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