Driven by a commitment to put actionable research directly into the hands of policymakers and practitioners, the RESTART Network’s five research teams have distilled years of rigorous analysis into accessible infographics. Each team has carefully crafted these visual summaries to highlight the most important findings and recommendations, making it easier for leaders to apply evidence-based strategies to build resilient schools and prepare for future disruptions.
By leveraging these infographics, policymakers and practitioners can carry forward the hard-earned lessons of pandemic responses, guiding thoughtful decision-making that strengthens educational systems for years to come.
California Expanded Learning Opportunities
How did rural and urban districts in California respond differently during the pandemic? Researchers from the California Department of Education and American Institutes for Research break down the strategies urban and rural districts deployed, such as conducting individual outreach, increasing teacher compensation, and reducing class sizes. As districts reckoned with student learning loss, the team identified an increase in the number of districts implementing high dose tutoring in the years following the pandemic, as illustrated in their infographic.
Chicago Skyline Early Literacy
When the Skyline literacy curriculum launched in 94 schools in 2021, researchers and practitioners partnered to study how investing in certain resources can lead to instructional change. This infographic—filled with insights for curriculum directors and school leaders looking to implement new curricula in their schools—spotlights the organizational resources that supported implementation, including championing professional learning and promoting collaboration structures.
Illinois Learning Renewal – SEL
The Illinois State Board of Education established Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Hubs in 2021 to give schools and districts training, resources, and support to implement SEL approaches. A team at American Institutes for Research (AIR) has tracked and compared schools’ participation in SEL Hub activities across the state. The infographic highlights the benefits of participation reported by regional leaders, such as a SEL Hub’s ability to create a common language and understanding of trauma, SEL, and self-care in schools.
Metro Atlanta Recovery and Acceleration
Sharing key findings from three Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education (MAPLE) projects, the team’s infographic reports on gender differences in achievement in remote learning settings. Girls performed better compared to boys in math classes with historically disruptive peers, but this was not the case for reading. Based on its findings about learning differences that arose in remote learning, the team recommends that policymakers focus on in-school interventions during learning disruptions.
North Carolina School Extension Programs
Looking at state-funded summer programs in North Carolina, researchers found positive impacts on student engagement and high school outcomes, such as a 4 percent increase in high schoolers taking career and technical education courses after completing a Career Accelerator summer program. Featuring clear recommendations for readers looking to ensure summer program success, the infographic emphasizes the importance of continual funding for summer programs and building supportive community partnerships.