Ensure that content strong staff provide interventions and support

As educational standards have become more demanding and content complexity has increased, the importance of teachers possessing a deep understanding and mastery of their subjects has grown significantly. Teachers who have undergone extensive study and training in a specific subject are likely to have a broader range of effective teaching methods. However, in many school districts, additional instruction is often delivered by paraprofessionals or special education teachers. While these professionals excel in pedagogy, they may lack specialized expertise in teaching specific subjects like math, English, and reading.

The districts that have achieved the most notable improvements among struggling students have distinguished themselves by offering these students, whether or not they have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), instruction from teachers with expertise in content. This targeted approach during extra instructional time ensures that students receive specialized guidance in the subjects where they need the most support, contributing significantly to their academic progress.