Equipping Educators With Research-Based Instructional Framework

To honor our founder Stewart Bainum Sr.’s commitment to faith-based education, the Foundation works to advance Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) education and expand the availability of high-quality learning environments for infants, toddlers, children and youth. One part of this work includes developing and implementing an Instructional Framework for 21st-century Educators.

What is the Instructional Framework?

Pulling together experts and practitioners in education and developed in tandem with Seventh-day Adventist teachers, administrators and other key leaders, the Instructional Framework establishes a research-based scope and sequence for teaching English/Language Arts content — clearly articulating learning expectations related to student content and skill mastery from kindergarten through eighth grade. To best instruct and support the whole child, it is aligned with the Common Core Standards and integrates Partnership for 21st Century skills and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning competencies.

What Have We Accomplished So Far?

In 2014, we partnered with an SDA school in Hyattsville, Maryland, to launch a two-year pilot of the Instructional Framework. The pilot involved five grade levels: kindergarten, first grade, third grade, fourth grade and sixth grade. For both years across all grade levels, the qualitative and quantitative data we recorded pointed to one key finding — the Instructional Framework is a powerful and effective tool. When fully implemented, the Framework will serve and strengthen students, teachers and schools within the Adventist education community and beyond.