Inquiry-Driven Practice

Improve practice with inquiry cycles.
See results within weeks.

Inquiry-Driven Practice helps schools and districts improve by using short inquiry cycles. Leaders, educators, and preservice teachers can test evidence-based strategies, collect data during daily work, and use what they discover to make timely adjustments that elevate teaching and learning.

Why Education Systems
Use Inquiry-Driven Practice

Schools and districts invest heavily in curriculum, professional learning, and improvement efforts. But it is a challenge to implement these consistently, and it usually takes too long to find out what actions are actually helping

Inquiry-Driven Practice closes those gaps, offering a practical way to use evidence, make mid-course corrections, and strengthen implementation while daily work is underway.  

Two young teachers brainstorming using adhesive notes in an office

More than just PD

Every education professional has problems of practice to solve and improvement goals to advance. What they often still need are clear, research-backed solutions and timely evidence about what works.

Inquiry-Driven Practice brings together practical evidence-based approaches, tools and resources in our Strategy Studio platform, and guided hands-on inquiry cycles.

Developed by researchers and practitioners, the method is:

  • Scientifically rigorous

  • Practical for use during everyday work

  • Built to connect evidence-based strategies to immediate challenges and goals

Happy satisfied math teacher in elementary class
On a zoom call from home

It goes beyond informational sessions by offering:

  • Hands-on learning

  • Personalized coaching

  • Easy-to-use tools and resources

Participants attend workshops and receive expert guidance as they use Strategy Studio tools and resources to:

  • Select an evidence-based strategy aligned to state standards and customizable for local use

  • Plan an inquiry cycle

  • Track evidence

  • Reflect on results

  • Make adjustments

Elementary school teacher greeting his students at the door. Male teacher welcoming his class with a high five

By the end, participants have completed at least one full inquiry cycle
and are ready to continue using the process on their own with confidence.

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The Inquiry-Driven Practice Suite 

Each professional learning program teaches the same Inquiry-Driven Practice method, but applies it to a different role and context. 

Instructional coaches and specialists learn to facilitate inquiry cycles, spot patterns across classrooms, and help spread what is working. 

Preservice teachers use inquiry cycles during preparation programs and field experiences so they are better prepared to improve instruction from the start of their careers.  

Strategy Studio

Our Strategy Studio platform powers the Inquiry-Driven Practice experience, making inquiry cycles easier to plan, manage, and learn from.

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What Participants Are Saying

What Inquiry-Driven Practice Delivers

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For Districts and Schools

  • Better visibility into implementation across schools, classrooms, and initiatives
  • A practical structure for continuous improvement during the school year
  • Timely evidence to back decisions and mid-course corrections
  • Clearer progress to share with boards, families, and other stakeholders
  • Stronger return on investments in curriculum and professional learning
  • A shared approach that can scale across roles and buildings
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For Teachers

  • Confidence to implement high-quality instructional practices and improve practice without adding unnecessary work
  • Evidence within weeks showing what is working in their classrooms
  • Clear, manageable adjustments to make right away
  • Support for refining, replacing, or deepening strategies based on evidence
Happy school admin team taking a break of work while talking and having fun in a coworking place.

For Leaders

  • Better visibility into implementation quality across classrooms and initiatives
  • A stronger way to lead improvement, not only evaluate outcomes
  • Timely evidence to guide decisions before summative results arrive
  • Stronger leadership practice through structured inquiry cycles
Coach at her desk looking at papers and a laptop

For Coaches

  • Clearer insight into what teachers are actually implementing
  • Coaching guidance grounded in research and local evidence
  • A consistent inquiry structure that strengthens coaching over time
  • Shared language and protocols that help spread what works
graduates tossing caps

For Educator Preparation Programs

  • A practical way to connect preparation coursework to real classroom practice
  • Early habit-building around evidence-based strategies and inquiry cycles
  • Stronger alignment between program goals, field experiences, and classroom implementation
  • Support for developing confident, reflective, inquiry-driven educators
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For Preservice Teachers

  • More confidence in making instructional choices during field experiences
  • Greater readiness to respond to student needs from day one of a career
  • A practical improvement process for growing skills before entering the classroom full time

Request a 15-Minute Consultation

No sales pitch. Connect directly with a specialist on our Inquiry-Driven Practice team to discuss your priorities.


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Our Services

We offer a wide selection of services backed up by practice area expertise, honed by decades of practical experience.

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Inquiry-Driven Practice Blog Posts