Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), the 18th largest school district in the United States, has embarked on an ambitious journey to revolutionize special education. At the heart of this transformation lies a strategic partnership with Goalbook and the integration of Goalbook Toolkit, a holistic, research-based solution that builds educator capacity to develop cohesive, high-quality Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and implement them with more effective specially designed instruction.
A recent evaluation conducted by Empirical Education sheds light on the impact of Goalbook Toolkit, one of the key initiatives implemented by PGCPS. Educators’ use of Goalbook Toolkit has increased year over year since initial implementation in 2017–18, suggesting Goalbook Toolkit has become an essential resource embedded within special educators’ practice. The impact study examined the relationship between educators’ usage of Goalbook Toolkit and student literacy outcomes.
Understanding the Context: PGCPS and Goalbook Toolkit
PGCPS serves a diverse student population. According to the 2024 School Year Maryland Report Card, 51.3% of students identify as Black/African American and an increasing percentage (40.1%) represent Hispanic/Latino students. PGCPS’ Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) student group comprises 62% of the student population, while Multilingual Learners comprise 25.7%, and Students with Disabilities 10.9%. The district’s Department of Special Education has been proactive in addressing challenges related to Individualized Education Program (IEP) quality and compliance.
In 2019, PGCPS’s Department of Special Education initiated a comprehensive overhaul of its approach to supporting students with disabilities. The district identified three major strategic initiatives, which they termed “Big Rocks”:
- Big Rock 1: Developing a multi-year professional learning plan
- Big Rock 2: Establishing a general supervision system for IEP monitoring
- Big Rock 3: Enhancing IEP compliance through improved auditing processes
To differentiate support for schools, the Department created a tiered system of support that specifically acknowledged and addressed unique school needs. The comprehensive approach that PGCPS implemented exemplifies a commitment to systemic change and continuous improvement in meeting the diverse needs of students with disabilities. The synergy between PGCPS’ efforts, Goalbook’s thought partnership, and Goalbook Toolkit showcase a model for effective transformation in special education support systems.
Evaluating Student Impact: Methodology and Scope
To evaluate the impact of Goalbook Toolkit, Empirical Education conducted a comprehensive study using data from the 2021–22 school year. The research employed both correlational and comparison group analyses to evaluate the relationship between Goalbook Toolkit usage by educators and their students’ literacy outcomes.
The study utilized data from 4,378 individual student records, including demographics, school and teacher identifiers, pretest and posttest English/Language Arts scores, and various metrics of Goalbook Toolkit usage by teachers.
Key Findings: The Positive Outcomes of Implementing Goalbook Toolkit
Key Finding #1: Positive Association with Student Outcomes
The correlational analysis revealed a significant positive association between the frequency of Goalbook Toolkit use and student performance on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) English/Language Arts test. Consistent weekly educator usage of Goalbook Toolkit was associated with a 9-percentile gain on the English/Language Arts assessment for an average student in the sample, which is commonly phrased to be the same as an average student moving from the 50th percentile to the 59th percentile.
Key Finding #2: Impact on Diverse Student Groups
One of the most striking findings was the strong positive effect observed for students eligible for free and reduced meals. For this group, weekly Goalbook Toolkit usage by their educators was associated with a 15-percentile gain on the MCAP English/Language Arts test.
Key Finding #3: The Importance of Consistent Usage
While the comparison group analysis didn’t find significant differences between students of Goalbook Toolkit educators and non-Goalbook Toolkit educators overall, a deeper analysis revealed an important insight. Students whose teachers used Goalbook Toolkit at least weekly showed significantly better outcomes compared to those whose teachers used it less frequently.
Specific Toolkit Usage Driving Impact
The study identified two key resource areas within Goalbook Toolkit that were strongly associated with positive student outcomes:
- “Clicked Develop Present Levels”
- “Viewed Anchor Page”
These two areas alone accounted for nearly the same predictive power as the model including all usage, highlighting their particular importance in driving student success.
The identification of “Clicked Develop Present Levels” and “Viewed Anchor Page” as high-impact tools within Goalbook Toolkit provides a roadmap for focused professional development. Training sessions can be designed to deepen educators’ understanding and effective use of these resources, maximizing Goalbook Toolkit’s impact on student growth and achievement and ensuring alignment between present levels and goals.
Implications for Educator Practice
Given these findings, several key implications emerge for educators looking to improve their instructional practices and support student learning:
- Prioritize Consistent and Strategic Use of Goalbook Toolkit: The correlation between frequent Goalbook Toolkit usage and improved student outcomes underscores the need for educators to integrate research-based resources into their routine practice. The consistent use of Goalbook Toolkit may provide teachers with more personalized and effective supports for their students, particularly those with special education needs.
- Focus on Addressing Educational Inequities: The significant gains observed among students eligible for free and reduced meals indicate that targeted interventions such as Goalbook Toolkit hold potential in helping to address educational inequities. Educators should consider prioritizing the use of Goalbook Toolkit to address varied student needs, ensuring that all learners have access to the resources and supports they need to succeed specifically at the level students need.
- Monitor and Adjust Usage Patterns: While the study shows the benefits of consistent Goalbook Toolkit use, it also highlights the importance of monitoring and adjusting how it is implemented. Educators should be mindful of their usage patterns and strive to use Goalbook Toolkit resources in ways that align with their instructional goals and the needs of their students.
- Leverage Data to Inform Instruction: The study utilized data on teachers’ Goalbook Toolkit usage and student literacy outcomes to identify effective instructional practices. Educators can similarly leverage data from educational tools to inform their instruction, monitor student progress, and make data-driven decisions that enhance learning outcomes.
Contextualizing the Results for PGCPS
The positive outcomes associated with Goalbook Toolkit usage align closely with PGCPS’ strategic initiatives. The tool supports the district’s goals of improving IEP quality and enhancing specially designed instruction, two key components of their “Big Rocks” strategy. The study’s findings on the importance of consistent, weekly usage provide valuable insights for PGCPS’ efforts to differentiate support for schools. This information provides insights from which the district could tailor professional development and implementation strategies to ensure optimal use of Goalbook Toolkit resources across all schools.
In addition, the particularly strong positive effect observed for students eligible for free and reduced meals is especially significant for PGCPS. This finding suggests that Goalbook Toolkit may be an effective tool in addressing educational inequities and supporting the district’s most vulnerable students. The positive results of this study validate PGCPS’ investment in Goalbook Toolkit. However, they also underscore the importance of ongoing evaluation and refinement.
Conclusion: A Promising Path Forward
The Empirical Education study provides strong evidence that PGCPS’ investment in Goalbook Toolkit is yielding positive results for its students who receive special education services, particularly in English/Language Arts achievement. Goalbook Toolkit’s impact appears to be especially pronounced for economically disadvantaged students, aligning well with the district’s equity goals. These findings validate PGCPS’ broader strategy of leveraging educational technology to transform special education outcomes. They also provide valuable insights that can inform the district’s ongoing efforts to differentiate support, improve IEP quality, and enhance specially designed instruction.
By integrating Goalbook Toolkit into their instructional practices, educators offer more personalized support for students, particularly students who may benefit the most. As the education landscape continues to evolve, the strategic use of high-quality partnerships will be essential in fostering student success and addressing educational inequities.
In addition, by focusing on consistent use, targeting interventions for economically disadvantaged students, and leveraging data to inform instruction, educators can maximize the benefits of Goalbook Toolkit and create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students.
As PGCPS continues its journey of special education transformation, this Goalbook Toolkit impact study serves as both a milestone and a roadmap. It demonstrates the potential of Goalbook Toolkit to drive meaningful improvements in student outcomes, while also highlighting areas for further exploration and refinement. By continuing to iterate on its approach, leveraging data-driven insights, and maintaining its commitment to meeting the diverse needs of all students, PGCPS is well-positioned to become a national leader in special education innovation. The district’s experience offers valuable lessons for other school systems grappling with similar challenges, showcasing the power of strategic partnerships, thoughtful implementation, and a relentless focus on student success.
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Goalbook is committed to supporting ongoing research and evaluation to deepen our collective understanding of how to improve instructional outcomes and promote continuous improvement.
Goalbook Toolkit meets the standards of research and evidence aligned to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (2015).
