Implementation of the Learning Differences Program
During the 2019-20 academic year, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (Friday Institute) established a modified research-practice partnership (RPP) with Manning Elementary School (Roanoke Rapids, NC) and Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School (Raleigh, NC).
As a part of the RPP, the Friday Institute provided continuous feedback to the schools as they implemented the Institute’s Learning Differences program and applied concepts of learning differences to their professional practice.
Manning Elementary School and Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School employed two different school implementations of the program:
- The Manning Elementary School implementation can be described as “light-touch”, as the Friday Institute provided bimonthly in-person instructional support to teachers during their PLC time.
- The Centennial Magnet Middle School implementation can be described as “high-touch”, as the Friday Institute facilitated constant and iterative feedback with teachers and administrators through weekly check-in meetings and weekly implementation memos.
Through the various data collected, the Friday Institute identified the impact program and described key lessons learned that may assist future schools and districts seeking to implement the Learning Differences program. These learnings may be found in the individual case study reports below.
This work was made possible through generous support from Oak Foundation. Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. More information about the Foundation may be found at https://oakfnd.org.
Funders
The Oak Foundation Teams
Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative 
Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group Selected Resources
This brief highlights nine key lessons from the case study “Becoming Embedded In What We Do” The Implementation and Impact of the Learning Differences Program at Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, North Carolina. In analyzing the data, the Friday Institute found nine key lessons from CCMMS Learning Differences program implementation that may help future schools and districts as they design their implementation strategies, namely:
This case study details the implementation and impact of the Learning Differences program at Manning Elementary School (MES) in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Section one provides an overview of the Learning Differences program. Section two describes how the Learning Differences program was implemented at MES and how data were collected. Section three draws on qualitative and quantitative data to illustrate the program’s impact on MES teachers and students. Section four discusses the seven key lessons learned from the implementation process. The authors intend for this case study to be a practical resource that schools and districts can reference as they implement their own learning differences initiatives.
This case study details the implementation and impact of the Learning Differences program at Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School (CCMMS) in Raleigh, North Carolina. Section one provides an overview of the Learning Differences program. Section two describes how the Learning Differences program was implemented at CCMMS and how data were collected. Section three draws on qualitative and quantitative data to illustrate nine key lessons learned from the implementation process as well as the program’s impact on students. The authors intend for this case study to be a practical resource that schools and districts can reference as they implement their own learning differences initiatives.
Project Team
Alex M. Dreier
Dr Callie Womble Edwards