The Challenge
In 2021, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) introduced Skyline, a universal, standards-aligned, and culturally responsive curriculum built specifically for the students of Chicago. Spanning English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Science, World Languages, and Arts Education, Skyline aimed to ensure every student had access to high-quality, rigorous instruction, no matter their zip code.
But with such an ambitious and far-reaching curriculum rollout, CPS faced a critical challenge: how could the district ensure consistent, meaningful implementation across hundreds of schools, thousands of educators, and a diverse range of instructional contexts?
Co-Design and Capacity Building
Research shows that successful curriculum implementation depends on sustained, job-embedded professional learning. That’s why CPS partnered with Teaching Lab to design a multi-year strategy for high-impact support grounded in the organization’s Head, Heart, and Habits model:
- Head: Teachers deepened their content knowledge through grade-banded Co-Labs focused on specific subject areas and aligned to Skyline. Sessions were led by content experts and prioritized relevance to instructional goals.
- Heart: Educator-led communities fostered trust, agency, and shared ownership over learning. Coaching structures were designed to be flexible and responsive to local needs, honoring the expertise of teachers and school leaders.
- Habits: Regular collaborative planning sessions and Co-Lab Support Calls helped teachers develop routines and instructional habits that supported consistent, coherent implementation across classrooms and schools.
Through this partnership, Teaching Lab provided personalized coaching, curriculum-based planning, and peer-to-peer learning experiences that connected instructional goals to daily classroom practice. A vibrant Co-Lab Leader Community emerged across multiple CPS networks, supporting school-based leadership and shared vision.
Educator Voices
“I feel like I’m more confident and comfortable when I’m talking with other educators, knowing what I can support them with. The work we’ve done has given me the ability to recognize my strengths and how I can use those to support the other teachers I work with.”
– Tamara Leachman, a CPS 3–5 math teacher
Impact
Teaching Lab’s partnership with CPS is building more than instructional knowledge. It is strengthening professional confidence, deepening teacher collaboration, and ensuring that curriculum implementation becomes an opportunity for real instructional change.
In the 2023–24 school year:
- Teachers who participated in direct-to-teacher coaching improved their instructional practice by over 32 percentage points, as measured by instructional observation rubrics.
- Students in grades K–5 experienced a 10-point increase in math proficiency, demonstrating that instructional shifts are translating to academic growth.
Teacher confidence in using the Skyline curriculum rose significantly:
- +21 points said the curriculum is well-organized and easy to use
- +11 points said it’s well-suited to their students
- +10 points said they like the adopted curriculum
In the 2024–25 school year, early feedback from educators underscores continued momentum:
- 100% of participants agreed that facilitators demonstrated deep content knowledge and that the sessions were clearly delivered, relevant, and applicable.
- Nearly all teachers said they had already applied, or planned to apply, what they learned in their instruction.
- 98 to 99% reported that the sessions gave them time to think, reflect, and practice strategies that support their day-to-day teaching.
Lasting Change, Built Together
CPS is the first large urban school system to design and implement a digital, culturally responsive curriculum at scale. By combining a bold vision with Teaching Lab’s inclusive, student-centered approach to professional learning, the district is creating the conditions for lasting instructional coherence. This progress is driven by teachers, supported by school leaders, and strengthened through intentional collaboration.
Knowledge Hub Resources
Case Study
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