This research looks in to the amazing influence collaboration plays on closing the achievement gap in both instructional gaps and learning gaps.

The research looks at academic gaps of low income communities. They looked at 3 factors, teacher performance, class abilities and classroom size. The researchers found that the better teaching practices significantly increased students scores, but the class abilities did not. They also found that class size was a factor. Although class size is important, teachers can not completely control that. However, this research shows that students fell into instructional gaps due to instruction that was not meeting teaching standards or not provided adequate instruction on the material.

This research looked at students with and with out learning disabilities, receiving the same education as students with out disabilities. This has a big impact on my full inclusion classroom. Within the conclusion, the authors state that students with learning disabilities should receive more time on the curriculum to increase their achievement and lower the learning gaps between the students.

The Education Trust looks into school assignments as well as what the state standards for the grade requires. They are finding that often the assignments we are giving do not match the standards and are therefore creating instructional gaps. My favorite quote: " Students can do no better than the assignment they are given... and the instruction they receive."