New GAO Report Validates DMTI's Approach to Teacher Professional Development
Education Week reports on groundbreaking GAO findings: collaborative, classroom-embedded professional development improves test scores. Here's why DMTI's model is perfectly aligned with federal recommendations.
The Big News
Education Week just published a major article on a new GAO report about teacher professional development, and the findings validate everything DMTI has been saying:
Key GAO Findings
- 2/3 of teachers say collaborating with other educators is the "most useful" element of PD
- Collaboration was MORE likely to improve test scores than PD models emphasizing curricular alignment or coaching alone
- Classroom-embedded coaching allows teachers to "immediately apply what I learned, receive feedback, and adapt practices"
- U.S. Dept of Education encourages districts to use Title II grants for team-teaching and collaborative models
"Collaborative learning with colleagues and classroom-embedded coaching have been the most useful kinds of professional development because the formats allowed me to immediately apply what I learned, receive feedback, and adapt practices to fit my students' needs."
— K-12 Teacher interviewed by GAO
The Problem: $1.8 Billion Spent, But Still Doing Workshops
Here's the frustrating part: Despite federal requirements that Title II-funded PD be "sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused," the GAO found districts are still more likely to use one-shot workshops than the intensive, sustained PD called for under federal law.
In the 2023-24 school year:
- $1.8 billion spent on Title II-A nationwide
- $101 million spent by states
- Most districts still using stand-alone workshops (not sustained support)
As GAO director Jacqueline Nowicki put it: "It's frustrating that after all this time there still isn't any direct research that cracks that nut" on what specific PD elements drive student achievement.
Except... there IS research. And DMTI has been using it.
Why DMTI's Model Is Exactly What GAO Recommends
| GAO Recommendation | DMTI Implementation |
|---|---|
| Collaborative learning with colleagues | Grade-level cohorts, co-planning, teacher leader development |
| Classroom-embedded coaching | In-person coaching days with classroom modeling and co-teaching |
| Job-embedded (in context of actual students) | Coaches work with YOUR students in YOUR classrooms |
| Sustained support (not one-shot) | 9 months of virtual PD + multiple in-person days |
| Data-driven instruction | PMA/IMA diagnostics, student work analysis, assessment review |
| Team-based training | Grade-level teams learn together, plan together, implement together |
What This Means for Your District
If you're using Title II funds for one-day workshops, the GAO report is a clear signal: it's time to shift to collaborative, classroom-embedded support.
DMTI partnerships are specifically designed to align with federal guidance:
- Title II eligible - Our model meets all federal requirements for sustained, intensive, collaborative PD
- Grant language provided - We help you justify the investment with research citations
- Fiscal year flexibility - We work with your business office to structure payments around your budget cycle
- Pilot options - Start with 3-5 schools, expand after seeing Year 1 results
"Teachers are thinking about the kids they all share and what they need, as opposed to, 'Oh, I went to this English conference and here's some strategies I learned,' absent of the context of the actual learners in your room."
— Richard "Lennon" Audrain, ASU Next Education Workforce Project
The Bottom Line
The GAO report confirms what DMTI has known for 20+ years: effective PD happens in classrooms, not conference rooms.
When teachers receive sustained, collaborative, classroom-embedded support:
- They feel supported and heard (Carnegie Foundation)
- They can immediately apply learning with their actual students
- They receive feedback and adapt practices in real-time
- Student test scores improve (267% average increase across DMTI partner schools)
Ready to Align Your PD with Federal Recommendations?
Schedule a 30-minute call to discuss how DMTI's research-backed model can transform math achievement in your district—using Title II funds effectively.
Schedule Your Planning Call →