Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement (RIISA)

Director: Penelope E. Lattimer

Website: http://riisa.gse.rutgers.edu

The mission of the Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement (RIISA) is to integrate, coordinate, and generate the means by which the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, P-12 districts, corporate, and community partners will work collaboratively to produce, as well as to perpetuate, continuous improvement in the achievement of all students.

Four components of the institute include:

1. Leadership

Developing, expanding, and modeling leadership to build capacity among all members of the school community.

2. Assessment and Evaluation

Interpreting, disseminating, and supporting data to improve teaching and learning.

3. Content and Teaching Expertise

Developing the necessary understanding of both content and pedagogy for quality teaching and student achievement with special emphasis on arts education, language arts, literacy, mathematics, science, and special education with particular attention to middle level issues (grades 4-8).

4. High School Redesign

Supporting new models of organizing and structuring high schools and schedules that promote high performance with particular attention to state and national standards to address college and career readiness.