Heidi Livingston Eisips

📊 Strong Results with FOSS in LA Unified School District (LAUSD) From 2022–2025, FOSS schools scored 5 percentage points higher on average in “meets and exceeds” on the Grade 5 California Science Test (CAST) compared to LAUSD overall. In 2025 alone, FOSS schools outperformed non-FOSS LAUSD schools by nearly 7%. LAUSD has adopted two science programs—FOSS and Amplify. Results shown are based on public assessment data.

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This is a big deal in the world of AI + Learning. The VitalSource learning science team's recently released peer reviewed research shows that when students used our AI-tool, Bookshelf CoachMe, they saw both increasing exam scores and replication of the Doer Effect. This published research validates the effectiveness of AI-generated practice questions as embedded formative practice.

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🎉 I’m thrilled that our K–12 RoboBlocky Math curriculum (https://lnkd.in/gyki5MX7) has been approved for adoption today by the California State Board of Education (SBE), in full alignment with the new California Math Framework! 📚 This milestone reflects over two decades of research and development focused on reimagining how students learn math to improve achievement, through collaboration with thousands of school and district administrators and TK–12 teachers. RoboBlocky Math is the first program in the nation to integrate coding and robotics across grades TK–12 while fully aligning with state math standards. It’s designed so that teachers with no prior coding or robotics experience can confidently guide their students — making math real, engaging, and accessible. 🚀 For at-promise, multilingual, special education, and advanced learners, the program has demonstrated significant gains in math achievement. In one successful implementation (https://lnkd.in/gkWSEK-S), the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the state math assessment jumped from 16% to 71% in a single year — a 344% improvement! Of the 31 students, 94% were Hispanic or Latino, and one special education student improved from Not Met Standards to Exceeded Standards. The program provides students with a life-changing learning experience. 🙏 I am deeply grateful for our dedicated staff and for the partnership of so many school and district leaders and their teachers. Working together, we are moving the needle and transforming K–12 math education — one classroom at a time! Mary Nicely, Katherine Goyette, Mauricio Arellano, Joey Adame, Tiffany Benson, Dr. Alfonso Jiménez, Ed.D., Rachel H. Monarrez, PhD, Reggie Thompkins, Ed.D., John Thompson, Rebeca Andrade, Ed.D.,Matt Turkie,Ramona Bishop, Juan J. Cabral, Caryn Lewis, Ed.D.,Angela Lin, PhD,Dr. Rosa P.,David Vujovich, Ed.D.,Jason Farrel,Deepika Srivastava,Kevin Dobson,John Pellman, Ed.D,Hernandez Rosa,Judianne G.,Lora Carey, Maria Parker,Joe Nguyen,Ashley Higuera-Oakes,Randy Kolset,Greg Miller,Randy Clyde, Ed.D.,Lori Guy,Stephanie Rice,Krysta Bradley,Lunden Duenas,Annette Roberts Webb,Marie Martin, PhD,Lisette Estrella-Henderson, M.Ed,Stephanie Morgado, Nikki Greminger, UC Davis College of Engineering

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📖 Superintendents and Principals — as California doubles down on literacy, how is your district turning strategy into student impact? Governor Newsom’s Golden State Literacy Plan outlines a clear mandate: early identification, evidence-based instruction, and meaningful engagement. At Rapidmooc, we’re supporting district leaders by transforming classrooms into dynamic literacy labs — powered by student voice and modern technology. 🎬 In San Bernardino City Unified School District, students use Rapidmooc to create book reviews, read-alouds, and school news segments — reinforcing fluency, comprehension, and presentation skills through authentic, student-led media (Check the video). ✅ Aligned with ELA/ELD Framework goals ✅ Boosts student confidence and oral language development ✅ Scalable across grade levels and campuses As you look to expand literacy coaching, invest in early intervention, or bring your LCAP goals to life — consider how video creation can serve as both a literacy accelerator and an engagement tool, enhancing students' learning experience. Let’s build the future of learning together — where every student becomes both a reader and a creator. #K12Leadership #LiteracyAcceleration #GoldenStateLiteracy #StudentVoice #EdTech #Rapidmooc #CAEducation #LCAP #SuperintendentGoals

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UC Links reminds us that public education is a public good. It connects universities, schools, and communities to create real learning opportunities for young people—especially those who have historically been excluded from those opportunities. The University of California, Berkeley, School of Education is proud to serve as host for University-Community Links (UC Links).

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Most of the time when I talk about modernizing mathematics, people immediately think about high school or maybe middle school. But our K-2 design team showed what is possible when you integrate durable skills with critical concepts in place value understanding. A group of Southern California first graders collaborated to answer the question: How many steps do we take in a day? Their initial conversations about where we walk, how fast we walk and how big our steps are showed early understandings of variability in data and needing a representative sample, concepts typically thought of in middle school. One of the biggest takeaways from this team’s showcase is that when children needed access to mathematics beyond the grade level, they used the necessary resources to create that access. A quick video that highlighted different ways to display data had children creating data visualizations that don’t show up in the standards until 3rd grade. When they needed bigger numbers to represent their step totals, they asked questions to extend their understanding of place value. As I write this, those same children are STILL counting their steps. Hope their families like those every minute step total updates. The excitement from this durable skills integration fueled learning in spaces not typically thought of as “math spaces.” Leading Educators is excited to partner with systems that are ready to modernize K-12 mathematics. Michelle Sperling

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California’s new math framework highlights the power of Big Ideas to guide instruction across grade levels. In her latest blog, Cheryl Tobey, M.Ed., shares strategies to help CA educators foster reasoning, perseverance, and confidence in student problem solvers. McGraw Hill PreK-12

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Critical topic. Only 20% transfer within 4 years despite well designed transfer pathways. On average, students that do transfer take 9 semesters and earn 71.5 credits (11.5 in excess of the required 60). Our research shows that academic schedules prevent most students (57%) from getting all of the courses conflict-free that they are advised to take in their pathways. To what extent do misaligned schedules undermine these completion reforms? The report reaffirms the importance of investing in students' first (momentum) year through 'flexible scheduling.' We also know that an ongoing focus on Degree Velocity through each year of students' academic careers is needed, which requires ensuring clear Completion Paths in academic schedules.

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Higher ed leaders are being asked to do more with better data—and faster decisions. Rupa Saran, VC & CIO of Coast Community College District, talks about how mission-aligned technology and near real-time insights are helping institutions better serve students across California. A smart, practical conversation in this Heroes of Higher Ed episode. Give it a watch! #HigherEducation #Technology #HeroesOfHigherEd

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