Marshall CoLab

Sparking Lasting Change

Marshall CoLab is dedicated to improving teaching and learning for students furthest from opportunity.

 

We bring together communities of educators, instructional coaches, and experts to co-develop and implement evidence-based practices and make them available to all schools.

Using the tools of continuous improvement – the science of getting better at getting better – we support educators along the path from theory to transformation to achieve lasting change.

Our IGNITE Network is a coalition of schools committed to making dramatic gains in the experiences, environments, and outcomes for students at the intersection of race, class, and ability. Over two years, these schools will implement and refine practices that lead to positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Driven By Collaboration

Our approach is driven by collaborative partnerships with schools and districts across the country. We recognize that each school community context is unique. That’s why our work is guided by these principles.

  • We meet school teams where they are with the resources and partners to help educators reach their goals.
  • We help our partners close equity gaps and prepare all students for the future.
  • We prioritize relationships, which are essential to learning.
  • We believe that we can get better at getting better. Improvement science is in our DNA.
  • We commit to going far together and work with educators to develop their capacity to lead ongoing improvement.

Our approach is driven by collaborative partnerships with schools and districts across the country. We recognize that each school community context is unique. That’s why our work is guided by these principles.

Explore Our Work

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    Powering the IGNITE Network

    Three teachers sit together at a table in a classroom in discussion

    Building on the success of the Networked Improvement Community for Students with Disabilities, and working in partnership with Mathematica, Tennessee SCORE, and the New Jersey Children’s Foundation, schools in the IGNITE Network are implementing and refining the Research-to-Impact Practices that led to positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

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    Leading Improvement

    Two teachers collaborate in a classroom at Green Dot Public Schools CA

    From 2019–2023, Marshall CoLab led the Networked Improvement Community for Students with Disabilities, which included 10 public charter school networks serving more than 75,000 students nationwide. Beginning in the 2024–25 school year, we will partner with additional schools committed to using evidence-based practices to improve learning experiences, environments, and outcomes for Black and Latinx students with disabilities experiencing poverty.

    Partner with Us
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    Advancing the Field

    Educators in discussion at a conference

    Transforming education systems is challenging, but school and district leaders shouldn’t have to start from scratch. Marshall CoLab develops resources that advance the field of continuous improvement in education, including white papers, playbooks, and implementation tools that help educators turn best practice into standard practice.

    Check out these resources.

Research-to-Impact Practices

The Networked Improvement Community for Students with Disabilities developed more than 20 evidence-based practices to meet the needs of Black and Latinx students with disabilities experiencing poverty. These practices helped network schools achieve positive outcomes on a wide range of student achievement measures, as well as attendance and postsecondary transitions.

  • Tested practices for schools to identify gaps and implement interventions for secondary readers

    This collection includes a set of best practices for improving learning outcomes in secondary students using evidence-based practices for reading intervention in the secondary setting.

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  • Interdisciplinary practices for building collaboration between general and special education teams

    This collection includes a set of best practices for improving learning outcomes, experiences, and environments in secondary students by bolstering collaborative practices between general educators and special educators.

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  • Equity-based practices for using data at the district, school, and classroom levels to accelerate student supports

    This collection includes a set of best practices for leveraging data within an MTSS model to equitably respond to student academic and social-emotional needs.

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  • Proven school-based practices to empower students to transition into meaningful college, career, and community postsecondary pathways

    This collection includes a set of best practices for improving learning and postsecondary outcomes in secondary students using transition programming that empowers students to pursue their individualized postsecondary pathways.

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  • One school’s skill-based practices for supporting students with emotional-based disabilities

    The Anchor program at Mastery Schools is a unique approach to serve students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in neighborhood schools. This collection is based on the Mastery program and includes a set of best practices for comprehensively improving learning environments and outcomes in secondary schools.

    Learn More >

A Message from the Director

Stephanie Lassalle

Director of Improvement Programs

“Schools can create inclusive, equitable learning environments where all students reach their full potential. To do that, we need to shift mindsets about what’s possible and redesign systems and practices in ways that center the needs of students furthest from opportunity. Our team of educators, coaches, and content experts is dedicated to partnering with school communities to bring this vision to life – and make it stick.”

Our Team

  • Stephanie Lassalle
    Stephanie Lassalle, Director of Improvement Programs
    Stephanie Lassalle, Director of Improvement Programs

    A veteran Special Educator and Structured Literacy Teacher, Stephanie brings her classroom expertise to her work every day as the Director of Improvement Programs at Marshall. Previously, she served as a K-5 Resource Specialist and Lead Teacher in San Ramon Valley Unified School District, where she was also a Board-appointed voting member of the Community Advisory Committee. Before that, Stephanie worked as an Education Specialist at Aspire Public Schools. Outside of work, Stephanie is passionately involved with the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay and currently serves on its Board of Directors.

Our Partners