Skip to main content
parent with two kids working on laptops

Homeschool Progress Monitoring: Why It Matters for Families

Written by Adrianna Serna on .

One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is the freedom to create an educational experience that fits your child’s unique learning style and your family’s goals. Parents can adjust the pace, spend more time on challenging concepts, and explore subjects in greater depth.

Homeschool progress monitoring helps parents understand whether their child is growing academically and where additional support may be needed. With all the flexibility homeschooling provides, many families still ask the same important question:

How do I know my child is making meaningful academic progress?

Daily assignments and completed lessons provide valuable information, but they do not always tell the whole story. Regular benchmark assessments help parents measure academic growth, identify strengths, uncover learning gaps, and make informed instructional decisions throughout the school year.

Tracking Homeschool Progress Throughout the School Year

Academic success is about more than one test score. The most valuable information comes from tracking student progress over time.

By administering benchmark assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year, parents can clearly see how their child is growing. Comparing these checkpoints helps families:

  • Measure academic progress throughout the year
  • Identify skills that need additional support
  • Adjust curriculum or pacing before learning gaps become larger challenges
  • Celebrate student growth and build confidence
  • Maintain documentation for portfolios or state reporting requirements when needed

Rather than relying on a single snapshot, parents gain a more complete picture of their child’s learning journey.

Keep Homeschool Assessment Results in One Place

Many homeschool families use multiple educational resources throughout the year. As a result, assessment data can become scattered across spreadsheets, notebooks, online programs, and printed reports.

A centralized assessment platform makes it easier to organize results in one convenient location. When homeschool assessment results are stored together, parents can quickly answer important questions:

  • Which subjects have shown the most growth?
  • Which skills still need additional practice?
  • Is my child progressing at the pace we expected?
  • Where should we focus instruction next?

Easy access to meaningful data helps parents turn assessment results into practical teaching decisions.

Choose Homeschool Assessments That Align With Your Goals

Every homeschool family approaches education differently. Some follow state academic standards, while others choose classical education, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unit studies, or eclectic learning models. A flexible assessment platform should support those choices rather than limit them.

For families who want to prepare students for state assessments or measure progress against state expectations, assessments can be aligned with individual state standards. Whether your student is preparing for the New York State Regents Examinations, STAAR in Texas, or another state assessment, standards-aligned benchmarks can help you understand how your child is progressing toward grade-level expectations.

At the same time, parents remain in control of how and when assessments are used. The data serves as a tool to support learning, not dictate instruction.

Create Customized Homeschool Assessments With an Optional Item Bank

Every student has unique strengths and areas for growth. Sometimes, a parent may want to provide additional practice on a single skill rather than administer a complete benchmark assessment.

An optional assessment item bank gives families the flexibility to create customized quizzes, practice tests, and skill checks. Parents can select questions based on specific subjects, academic standards, skills, concepts, or grade levels. This makes it easier to reinforce learning and monitor mastery throughout the year.

Whether students need additional support before moving to the next lesson or a new challenge after mastering a concept, customized homeschool assessments provide targeted practice that meets each learner where they are.

Make Homeschool Teaching Decisions With Confidence

Assessment is not about adding unnecessary testing to the homeschool environment. It is about giving parents reliable information that helps them make confident instructional decisions.

When homeschool families have access to meaningful assessment data, they can:

  • Personalize instruction based on student needs
  • Make informed curriculum decisions
  • Monitor academic growth throughout the year
  • Identify and address learning gaps
  • Prepare students for standardized tests and college entrance exams
  • Support future academic opportunities or transitions into traditional classrooms

The goal is not simply to measure what students know today. It is to understand how they are growing and determine how to best support their continued success.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschool Progress Monitoring

What is progress monitoring in homeschooling?

Homeschool progress monitoring is the process of regularly reviewing assessment results, completed work, and skill development to measure a student’s academic growth over time. It helps parents identify strengths, uncover learning gaps, and make informed instructional decisions.

How often should homeschool students take benchmark assessments?

Many homeschool families use benchmark assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. These checkpoints can establish a starting point, measure progress, and show a student’s overall academic growth.

Can homeschool assessments align with state standards?

Yes. Standards-aligned homeschool assessments can help families understand how a student’s skills compare with grade-level expectations in their state. Parents can decide whether and how state standards fit into their homeschool goals.

Can homeschool parents create their own assessments?

With access to an assessment item bank, parents can create customized quizzes, practice tests, and skill checks based on specific subjects, standards, skills, or grade levels.

Why is progress monitoring important for homeschool students?

Progress monitoring helps families recognize academic growth, identify areas that need additional support, and adjust instruction before small learning gaps become larger challenges. It also gives parents clear information they can use when planning future lessons.

Helping Homeschool Families Thrive

Homeschooling gives families the freedom to create a personalized educational experience. Pairing that flexibility with meaningful progress monitoring provides valuable insight into each student’s academic journey.

With benchmark assessments, centralized reporting, optional state standards alignment, and a customizable assessment item bank, parents can access professional-quality tools while maintaining control over their child’s education.

When families have clear, actionable data, they can make confident decisions, celebrate growth, and help students continue moving toward their academic goals, regardless of where they live or how they choose to homeschool.

Castle Learning supports homeschool families with educational resources designed to strengthen learning, practice, and academic progress. Explore Castle for Home to discover additional ways to support your child’s learning journey.

Explore Castle for Home

About the Authors

Melissa Sperry and Pam Fitzgerald bring decades of combined experience in education, curriculum development, and homeschooling to their work.

Melissa Sperry is an instructional design professional and curriculum specialist who is currently completing the capstone for her Master of Education in Curriculum Development. She spent five years as a classroom teacher, has worked as a private math tutor since 2011, and has developed standards-aligned curriculum, assessments, and digital learning resources for Harris Education’s Tango Software since 2012. Melissa also homeschooled her daughter for three years before transitioning back to public school, giving her firsthand experience with both homeschooling and traditional education.

Pam Fitzgerald spent 15 years teaching writing and homeschooled both of her daughters throughout their K-12 education. With more than 25 years of homeschooling experience, she understands the unique opportunities and challenges families encounter when educating at home. Her daughters, now successful adults, reflect her commitment to personalized, student-centered learning.

Together, Melissa and Pam combine professional expertise with real-world experience to help educators and homeschool families make informed instructional decisions through high-quality curriculum, meaningful assessments, and practical educational resources.

Math Teacher in front of class

Transforming Professional Learning at PGCPS with eDoctrina

Written by Adrianna Serna on .

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) partnered with eDoctrina to elevate and transform their professional learning (PL) experience. The goal was to centralize and track professional development across the district, from onboarding to licensure, while improving the user experience and data management. As the Professional Learning Hub for the district, eDoctrina has supported the district’s goals of having a submission and approval process at both the office and district level in order to track and streamline professional learning offerings to all staff work groups.

Features & Functionality

Innovative features and robust functionalities built in eDoctrina have significantly impacted the way PGCPS monitors and engages in professional learning. eDoctrina’s feature-rich platform has been pivotal in achieving these goals. Notable features include:

  • Blackout Calendar and Catalog Release Date Calendar: Prevents conflicts and streamlines scheduling.
  • Do Not Release: This feature has been valuable to those hosting PL sessions for specific audiences, allowing them to keep the sessions private and out of general search results.
  • Bulk Approval and Attendance: These functionalities have streamlined administrative processes and helped improve efficiency.
  • Reporting and Data Export: Supports data-driven decision-making.
  • Learner Dashboard: Enhances user experience and engagement.
  • Canvas Integration: Seamless integration with Canvas has boosted the use of self-paced courses, expanding access to professional learning.
  • External Learner Registration: Opens learning opportunities to non-PGCPS staff such as parents, pre-service candidates, interns, and more.
  • Self Check-In: Provides easy attendance tracking by empowering the participants to mark themselves attended by scanning a QR code and entering a 4-digit code provided by the instructor.

Administrative and support staff who are responsible for managing professional learning have benefited greatly from the above mentioned features. Bulk import of attendance, rosters, and approval capabilities, along with comprehensive reporting tools, have streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burdens. The platform’s approval workflow and customizable reports have enhanced productivity, allowing staff to focus more on supporting learners. Another notable achievement has been the increased use of Canvas for self-paced courses, providing learners with convenient access to a wealth of content.

Productivity & Engagement

eDoctrina has increased employee engagement and satisfaction across the district. More central office departments (Transportation, Operations, Food Services, etc.) now utilize the platform to advertise and track professional learning and mandatory training, supporting PGCPS’s goal of having PL accessible for all staff. The platform also tracks key metrics such as learner participation, CPD credits, and course completion. This data supports grant reporting, strategic planning, and monitoring success indicators. Overall, eDoctrina has transformed PGCPS’s approach to professional learning, creating a streamlined and effective system that supports data-driven decisions and continuous improvement.

Science Teacher Teaching a Class

Looking for mVal? You’re in the Right Place.

Written by Rachel Wentink on .

If you searched for mVal and landed here, welcome. The staff performance appraisal system that Ontario school boards have long known as mVal is now called eWalk.

For over two decades, principals, vice-principals, teachers, and board administrators have used the platform to complete NTIPs, Experienced TPAs, PPAs, and other staff appraisals. They also use it to track appraisal dates, completion status, annual learning plans, and improvement plans.

Because the platform has been an integral part of HR and instructional leadership for so long, many educators still refer to the Ontario appraisal system as “mVal.” That’s completely understandable. When a tool becomes embedded in a district’s daily routines, its original name often sticks, even after it changes.

What’s changed?

When mVal first came into use in 2003, it provided a straightforward way to track and complete staff appraisals. As school boards’ needs evolved, the platform evolved too. Beginning in 2019, the Harris Education Solutions team started transitioning boards from mVal to the more modern and flexible eWalk platform.

Today, staff performance appraisals remain a core part of eWalk. Thousands of schools across Ontario continue to use them. However, they represent only a fraction of what the platform now offers. eWalk is a full featured form, survey, and workflow creation system that supports classroom walkthroughs, professional learning, student and parent surveys, incident reporting, building maintenance walks, and more. Users can create their own forms from scratch or choose from hundreds of ready made templates in the shared library.

What truly sets eWalk apart is its reporting and analytics. Leaders can track appraisal completion, identify instructional trends over time, and uncover strengths and opportunities for growth at both the school and staff levels. eWalk puts the right data in front of the right people, helping leaders make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement.

Welcome to eWalk

Whether you are returning after some time away or researching staff appraisal software for your board, you’ve found the same Canadian owned and operated solution that educators have trusted for years.

Today, eWalk helps school and district leaders across North America evaluate staff and conduct classroom walkthroughs. It also helps them document instructional evidence, provide meaningful feedback, and gain insights that drive continuous improvement.

Interested in learning more? Request a personalized demo to see how eWalk can support your evaluation process. Discover how it helps you surface actionable data for school improvement, manage student and parent surveys, and much more.

Schedule a demo

By Marc Moretti

Middle school teacher teaching in front of a class

The Power of Three: Collect, Analyze, Engage

Written by Adrianna Serna on .

Schools are surrounded by data, but student data analytics does more than simply collect information. It helps districts make sense of data and use it to improve student outcomes. The real impact comes from how districts collect information, analyze it, and use it to guide instruction.

When student information, assessments, analytics, and curriculum planning exist in separate systems, educators often struggle to see the full picture and take timely action. When districts connect these processes, data becomes more than a collection of numbers. It becomes a tool for improving teaching and learning.

That is the idea behind the Power of Three: Collect, Analyze, and Engage.

By bringing together goedustar, eDoctrina, and edInsight, districts can create a seamless workflow that supports educators at every stage of the instructional process. From collecting accurate student information to analyzing performance data and engaging students through targeted instruction, these three solutions work together to turn information into action.

Collect

Every successful decision begins with accurate and reliable data. As a district’s Student Information System, goedustar serves as the foundation for everything that follows. It manages critical student, staff, attendance, grading, scheduling, and course information while providing districts with a centralized source of truth.

Accurate data is essential because every report, assessment, and instructional decision depends on it. Through master scheduling and course management, goedustar helps ensure that students enroll in the correct courses and that teachers have access to the information they need.

This foundation supports daily operations and strengthens long term planning and decision making. When districts trust their data, educators spend less time verifying information and more time focusing on student learning.

That confidence becomes even more valuable as schools move from collecting information to measuring student progress.

Analyze

Once districts establish accurate student and course data, educators can gather meaningful insights through assessment.

Using information from goedustar, eDoctrina allows curriculum leaders and teachers to create, administer, and manage assessments that measure student learning and academic growth. These assessments provide valuable information about what students know, where learning gaps may exist, and which concepts may require additional support.

Pairing assessment results with analytics gives districts even deeper insights. Through edInsight, districts can combine assessment scores with other student data points to gain a deeper understanding of student performance and progress.

Instead of reviewing data sets in isolation, educators can identify patterns, monitor growth trends, and uncover opportunities for improvement across classrooms, schools, and districtwide initiatives.

This holistic view helps districts strengthen Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Using edInsight, educators can identify students who may be at risk, assign interventions, monitor progress, and evaluate intervention effectiveness over time. Rather than relying on assumptions, schools can make informed decisions based on a complete picture of student performance.

As a result, districts can support students more proactively and direct resources and instructional efforts where they will have the greatest impact.

Engage

Collecting and analyzing data are important steps, but meaningful improvement happens when those insights are translated into action.

Once educators understand where students are excelling and where additional support is needed, eDoctrina helps bridge the gap between data and instruction. Using tools such as Curriculum Mapping, Unit Planning, Lesson Planning, Power Standards, Scope and Sequence Reports, and Curriculum Presenter and Recorder, educators can create learning experiences that are aligned to both district goals and student needs.

This connection between assessment data and curriculum planning helps ensure that instruction is purposeful and responsive. Teachers can use the insights gained through assessment and analytics to adjust lessons, prioritize standards, and focus instructional efforts where they will have the greatest impact. At the same time, curriculum leaders can maintain consistency across classrooms while supporting continuous improvement throughout the district.

When instruction is informed by meaningful data, engagement becomes more intentional, and students benefit from learning experiences designed around their needs.

Better Together

Individually, goedustar, eDoctrina, and edInsight each play an important role in supporting educators. Together, they create a connected ecosystem that helps districts move seamlessly from collecting information to analyzing performance and engaging students through targeted instruction.

The true Power of Three lies in the way these solutions work together. Accurate student data provides the foundation. Assessments and analytics provide insight. Curriculum and instructional planning provide action. When all three are connected, districts gain a clearer understanding of student needs, educators are empowered to make more informed decisions, and students receive the support they need to succeed.

That is the power of moving beyond data collection and creating a continuous cycle of Collect, Analyze, and Engage. Ready to see the Power of Three in action? Discover how goedustar, eDoctrina, and edInsight can work together to help your district connect data, strengthen decision making, and create more meaningful learning experiences for every student. Whether you’re looking to improve assessment practices, streamline curriculum planning, or gain deeper insight into student performance, our team is here to help you build a more connected approach to teaching and learning.

By Laura Patton, Director of Operations

Laura is a K-12 education technology and data leader with more than 22 years of experience in Student Information Systems and a career dedicated to helping school districts improve the quality, integrity, and strategic use of student data. Her expertise spans student information systems, state reporting, data governance, interoperability, district operations, and data integrity, with a focus on helping schools build confidence in the information that drives compliance, decision-making, and student support.

Teacher Incentive Allotment in Texas (TIA): From Compliance to Confidence in Implementation

Written by Rachel Wentink on .

Most districts don’t struggle with understanding the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA).
They struggle with what happens after they decide to participate. Because that is where TIA stops being a policy concept and starts becoming coordination work across people, systems, and data.

On paper it looks straightforward. Build a local designation system. Measure teacher effectiveness. Submit required data. Reward high performing educators. Simple enough, right?

Until districts start pulling together observation data, student growth measures, evaluator calibration records, staffing information, and reporting requirements from multiple systems and departments.

That’s when the reality of implementation sets in.

What begins as a compensation initiative quickly turns into a districtwide conversation about data quality, instructional consistency, and alignment across systems. And while that can feel overwhelming at first, it is also where many districts begin strengthening the systems that actually support teaching and learning.

The districts seeing the most success with TIA are not treating it as a once-a-year reporting requirement. They are treating it as an opportunity to build a more connected approach to educator growth.

The operational workload behind the program

TIA is often described as performance-based compensation, but district implementation introduces ongoing operational responsibilities.

District teams typically manage:

  • aligning student growth data with teacher assignments
  • validating evaluation results across campuses
  • reconciling differences between systems
  • preparing reporting submissions for state funding

These tasks are not new to education. What changes is the level of coordination and precision required to complete them reliably and repeatedly. As participation scales, the workload becomes more about maintaining alignment than completing one-time setup tasks.

The Difference Between Compliance and Confidence

There is a meaningful difference between just submitting TIA data and trusting the story that data tells.

District leaders do not just want completed reports. They want confidence that classroom observations are consistent across evaluators, that growth measures are reliable and defensible, that teacher performance is interpreted the same way across campuses, and that data reflects reality rather than just compliance.

That level of confidence does not come from spreadsheets or end of year validation cycles. It comes from systems designed for transparency throughout the entire instructional cycle.

When districts have access to consistent walkthrough data, coaching trends, and connected reporting, the conversation shifts. Teams spend less time chasing information and more time supporting teacher growth.

That is when districts move from simply submitting data to having confidence in what that data represents across campuses and systems.

Building a Sustainable TIA Strategy

The districts making the most progress with TIA are not treating it as a once-a-year reporting exercise. They are building routines that make instructional data more consistent throughout the year.

That work shows up in how observations are conducted, how feedback is captured, and how often data is cleaned or validated before it ever reaches a reporting cycle.

Instead of relying on end of year reconstruction, these districts focus on creating repeatable processes during the school year. Classroom walkthroughs are documented in a consistent format. Coaching conversations are tied back to observable evidence. Evaluator feedback is aligned enough that it can be compared across campuses without interpretation gaps.

This is where instructional data collection tools often become part of the workflow.  Districts use solutions such as eWalk to structure walkthrough and observation data, which reduces variation between campuses and eliminates much of the manual work that typically happens later during TIA preparation.

The result is not just more data. It is more usable data. Information that can be trusted without needing to be rebuilt every reporting cycle.

Why Alignment Matters Early in TIA Design

While the state provides the overall structure for TIA, districts are responsible for defining how student growth and teacher evaluation data are combined within their local system. This is where alignment becomes critical, because when evaluation systems reflect one view of performance while student growth measures reflect another, inconsistencies appear later when designations are calculated.

Districts that implement more smoothly establish alignment early between instructional expectations, evaluation frameworks, and student growth and teacher performance measures, which helps ensure that once the foundation is in place, downstream processes become more stable and predictable.

At its core, this work ensures student growth is interpreted consistently, giving districts a clearer understanding of what is actually working in classrooms.

Solutions like Tango support this by connecting student growth, assessment progress, and instructional data into a unified system of reporting and insights, helping districts clearly see how instruction is impacting student mastery.

Moving toward simpler, connected TIA reporting

As districts work through TIA implementation, they often look at how their systems support alignment between instruction, evaluation, and reporting.

This is about reducing the manual work required to connect data across systems. We offer tools like eWalk that helps districts capture consistent walkthrough and observation data, and Tango that connects student growth and evaluation data into a unified TIA reporting structure.

We provide the tools and reports so districts can clearly see the growth behind it.

The goal is simple: reduce friction between systems so districts can trust the data they submit and the story it tells. At Harris Education Solutions, we are always happy to share insights and support districts as they think through how to strengthen their TIA processes and systems.

If you’re looking to simplify TIA reporting or connect your data more effectively, contact us to learn more.

By Becky Grady

Becky Grady is a dedicated education professional with a passion for curriculum development and teacher support. She began her career in the classroom, spending six years as an elementary school teacher where she developed a deep understanding of instructional strategies and student learning needs. Building on this foundation, she transitioned into a trainer role, where she equipped fellow educators with expertise in various reading assessments. Today, Becky serves as a Curriculum Specialist, leveraging her extensive background in education to create high-quality instructional content for school districts across the region.

A More Connected Approach to HIB Reporting in K-12 Schools

Written by HES Marketing on .

by Joe Brislin.

What a connected process looks like

HIB incident management tools can help districts organize reporting and improve consistency across cases. But in practice, the process becomes even more effective when it is part of the systems staff already use every day.

When HIB reporting is built into your Student Information System (SIS), everything is already connected in one place. Staff are not switching between tools or duplicating information across systems. Instead, a report can be logged, reviewed, investigated, and resolved within a single workflow that naturally fits into their daily work. Solutions like Realtime support this approach by bringing HIB reporting directly into the same environment as student data and everyday administrative workflows.

This creates a more consistent experience across cases and gives staff a clearer, real-time understanding of where each incident stands. It also reduces the risk of missed details or delays as information moves through the process.

Why this matters beyond compliance

While meeting requirements is important, the benefits extend far beyond reporting.

When systems are easier to use, schools are better equipped to respond quickly and consistently. Staff can spend less time managing paperwork and more time focusing on prevention, intervention, and student support. Communication with families also becomes clearer, which helps build stronger trust between schools and home.

Over time, this contributes to a healthier school climate where issues are addressed more efficiently and students feel more supported.

Take the Next Step

As expectations around HIB reporting and school transparency continue to grow, many districts are being asked to do more with limited time and resources. Having connected systems in place can help ease that pressure by reducing complexity, improving consistency, and supporting compliance requirements while keeping student safety at the center of the work.

At its core, this is about helping schools respond with care, communicate more clearly, and support students in meaningful and timely ways. When HIB reporting is part of a Student Information System with HIB built in, it becomes easier for staff to stay aligned and for information to move in a clear and consistent way.

Realtime by Harris Education Solutions brings HIB reporting, student data, and everyday workflows together in one place, helping districts focus more on students and less on systems.

Joseph (Joe) Brislin 

With 27 years in public education, Joe Brislin has worn many hats—starting as a K-8 Physical Education and Health teacher, moving into roles as a middle school Vice-Principal and elementary Principal, and eventually leading technology efforts as a district Technology Director. He holds a bachelor’s in physical education and health, a master’s in physical education and coaching administration, and a master’s in educational administration. Joe brings a rich blend of experience to every role he takes on — from his current work as a Regional Sales professional at Harris Education Solutions to 47 years of coaching across various school and community sports levels. 

Harris Education Solutions Announces New Partnership with BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative

Written by HES Marketing on .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The BuyBoard National Purchasing Cooperative is a cooperative formed by governmental entities to streamline the buying process for public schools, municipalities, and other governmental entities. Through BuyBoard, member districts can now purchase Tango and eWalk solutions from Liberty Source, under a competitively awarded, fully compliant contract, reducing the time and administrative cost of issuing separate bids. Tango provides innovative student assessment, personalized practice and data analytics software and eWalk provides intuitive classroom walkthroughs and teacher evaluation software available on devices such as tablets and mobile phones.

“Districts need trustworthy, easy‑to‑implement tools that support student success and operational efficiency,” said Chris Donnelly, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Harris Education Solutions. “Being on BuyBoard allows schools to adopt our solutions faster while maintaining transparency and compliance in their purchasing process.”

BuyBoard members can use the Liberty Source contract to acquire:

  • Student information and data tools 
  • Assessment and progress monitoring
  • Curriculum and instruction support
  • Family and community engagement tools
  • Professional learning and implementation services – training, onboarding, and ongoing support for district staff.

For more information, contact us or visit www.buyboard.com.

What Gets Measured Gets Improved: The Role of Data in Teacher Development

Written by HES Marketing on .

by Dr. Brad Hunter, Vice President of Operations and Product & former Assistant Superintendent.

“Measurement” can be a loaded word in education. Done poorly, it can feel like a compliance exercise. Done well, it becomes a catalyst for professional growth, stronger instruction, and better student outcomes. The difference isn’t the presence of data—it’s how that data is organized, surfaced, and used in daily practice. 

That’s where eDoctrina’s Accountability Suite stands out. It’s designed less as a scoreboard and more as a coaching system—giving educators timely, trustworthy information they can act on, and giving leaders a clear, coherent picture of progress without burying anyone in paperwork. 

Turning accountability into growth

When teachers can see where they’re thriving and where they can improve—in real time—they can adjust instruction, seek targeted support, and track the impact of changes. eDoctrina’s approach is to put that kind of clarity at educators’ fingertips. Instead of waiting for end-of-year summations, teachers and leaders can engage in ongoing, evidence-based conversations. The most important person to influence student achievement other than teachers is the school principal, through their ability to give teachers quality feedback, whether it be affirmation, or suggestions for improvement and change. This shifts accountability from a once-a-year event to a continuous cycle of feedback, reflection, and improvement.  

Bringing everything into one coherent picture 

In many districts, important evidence lives everywhere: observation notes in one system, student learning goals in another, growth measures in a third. That fragmentation makes it hard to see patterns or build a shared understanding of progress. A core strength of eDoctrina’s Accountability Suite is how it brings the most important pieces together. The result is a single, consistent “source of truth” that reduces guesswork and eliminates the spreadsheet chaos that too often derails meaningful dialogue.

Clarity that builds trust

Data only improves practice when educators trust it. eDoctrina helps build that trust by making expectations visible and evidence easy to understand. Teachers can see how goals connect to daily practice, how observations track against agreed-upon criteria, and how student outcomes relate to instructional decisions. That transparency fosters psychological safety: educators know what’s being measured, why it matters, and how to move the needle.

Consistency that supports equity

One of the quiet challenges in any evaluation system is consistency—ensuring that feedback is fair across classrooms, grade levels, and schools. eDoctrina supports leaders in providing calibrated, consistent feedback so educators are evaluated on the same standards in the same way. That consistency amplifies equity, reduces ambiguity, and makes recognition, growth plans, and decisions feel more defensible and fair.

Real-time insight, real-time course correction

Instruction moves fast. Teachers need to know what’s working now, not months later. With clear views of progress throughout the cycle, educators can adjust strategies midstream, and leaders can pinpoint who needs support and who is ready to stretch further. Professional learning communities, department teams, and instructional coaches all benefit from having a current, shared view of performance. It accelerates improvement because it shortens the feedback loop.

Less friction, more coaching time

The administrative burden of observation, goal-setting, and progress monitoring can sap time and energy from the work that matters most: coaching and teaching. eDoctrina reduces that friction with streamlined workflows and intuitive tracking. When the busywork fades into the background, leaders can spend more time in classrooms, giving targeted feedback and supporting instructional practice. Teachers gain back time for planning and collaboration.

Teacher ownership and agency

Growth sticks when it’s owned by the person doing the growing. eDoctrina is designed to make teachers active participants in their development—setting goals, monitoring progress, reflecting on evidence, and celebrating wins. That sense of ownership transforms data from something done to teachers into something used by teachers. It nurtures a culture where reflection is habitual and improvement feels attainable.

From the classroom to the district office

The same qualities that help individual educators grow also help district leaders steer improvement at scale. Clear, aggregated views of progress make it easier to spot system-wide strengths and gaps, align professional learning, and allocate resources where they’ll have the biggest impact. When leaders can see patterns without losing the nuance of individual classrooms, they’re better positioned to support both equity and excellence. 

A practical scenario

Imagine a teacher starts the year by identifying a student learning goal aligned to local priorities. Early observations surface specific strengths and a couple of growth areas tied to instructional moves. Rather than waiting for a final rating, the teacher and coach review evidence mid-cycle, adjust strategies, and check back a few weeks later to see what changed. By spring, the teacher can point to clear, documented growth—supported by classroom evidence, student outcomes, and aligned feedback. It’s not about chasing points/ratings; it’s about telling a credible story of progress that everyone can see. 

In short, eDoctrina helps districts turn accountability into a lever for professional learning. It’s the difference between measuring for compliance and measuring for growth—and it’s how schools make “what gets measured gets improved” true in practice.

With 33 years of education experience, Dr. Brad Hunter has built his expertise from the ground up. Starting as a paraprofessional, he moved through essential roles like teacher, principal, and director for various departments including Federal Programs and Pre-K. He eventually took on the role of Assistant Superintendent for K-12 Operations and Curriculum in Lee County, Alabama. Brad’s academic credentials are a perfect match for this practical experience. He holds a range of degrees, from bachelor’s in psychology and human services to master’s degrees in education and reading, all the way to an Education Specialist in Administration and a Ph.D. in Curriculum Development. His experience has given him firsthand insight into the challenges school systems face every day. As Vice President of Operations and Product at Harris Education Solutions, Brad’s goal is to partner with the HES team to design software that not only addresses these challenges but also empowers educators and students to thrive. 

Three Steps to Emotionally Support Students to Promote Academic Success

Written by HES Marketing on .

The Relationship of Emotions and Academics

“Jesse” got in a car accident on the way to a job interview. He was not physically hurt, but he felt emotionally shaken. Upon arrival, Jesse snapped at the secretary. During the interview, he struggled to retrieve words. These behaviors were uncharacteristic for him and yet, consistent with the effects of emotional trauma and stress. Not surprisingly, he did not land the job.

Jesse’s experience illustrates the relationship between emotions and cognitive functions. You probably see evidence of that relationship in your classroom. A plethora of research confirms that emotional factors influence students’ ability to concentrate, communicate, regulate emotions, and form relationships.

There is a common saying among educators, “Maslow before Bloom.” Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes what motivates people. Bloom’s Taxonomy of learning describes levels of thinking. The saying “Maslow’s before Bloom’s” means that students must have their physical and emotional needs met before teachers should expect substantial academic progress.

Three Pillars of Supporting your Students’  Emotional Needs

You probably have children in your classes now struggling with emotional trauma and chronic stress. Chronic stress is ongoing, such as prolonged food insecurity. Trauma refers to events, such as the death of a loved one. Some traumas, such as abuse, occur repeatedly.

If a child is acting out and showing a lack of self-regulation, their need for emotional support is evident. However, not every child who needs emotional support shows it externally. The quiet child following the rules may be silently struggling, too, hoping someone will notice. Addressing and supporting your students’ emotional needs requires intentional effort.

Like most teachers, you would fix all the issues in your students’ lives if you could. While you may not own a cape or magic wand, three actions will make you a superhero in the lives of many children.

  1. Build a trusting relationship with all children.
  2. Teach emotional awareness and self-care skills.
  3. Identify children who need more support than you can provide and refer them to qualified specialists.
Building a Trusting Relationship

Your students will probably not tell you about their fears and insecurities on the first day. They must feel that you are a trustworthy person before they allow their vulnerabilities to show. You will earn students’ trust by creating a safe space for them. Give students control of how they share, be available to listen (or read) without judgment, and follow up on what they share.

Tell your students from the beginning that if they tell you that someone is in danger, you must report it. You do not want to breach their trust if that situation occurs.

Students will test your trustworthiness and open up slowly. The kid who starts talking about bickering with their sibling may be working up the courage to confide a more intense problem. That progression is why active listening is vital even when a particular struggle seems trivial.

Remember to follow up on celebrations too! A simple, “Congratulations on scoring a goal!” goes a long way towards your students seeing that you value them as people beyond the classroom walls.

Checking in with your students also contributes toward building a trusting relationship. Daily emotional check-ins give students practice with self-awareness. They also provide opportunities for students to alert you when significant changes occur in their lives.

Daily check-ins do not need to take up much class time. Depending on your learning model, students can do their emotional check-ins using a Google form or paper form. Either way, the students should be able to control who sees it. Forcing them to share their stories and emotions with you or other students will erode trust.

The actual check-in could be as simple as choosing the appropriate emoji to represent their current emotional state. It could be as involved as filling out a quick questionnaire. The questionnaire might ask questions such as, “How are you today?” “What is making you feel that way?” “Do you want to talk more about this?”

In addition to daily check-ins, you may want to incorporate regular in-depth check-ins. These could take the form of drawing, journal writing, and individual conversations. The longer check-ins give students more time to reflect on their feelings.

Teaching Self-Awareness and Self-Care

Your students will likely start by only sharing basic emotions, such as mad, sad, and happy, because they may only be aware of the surface level of emotions. As you build rapport and students become more self-aware, they will communicate a broader range of emotions.

There are many great programs for helping students build emotional awareness. They start by teaching students to identify their feelings. The Zones of Regulation® by Leah Kuypers is a popular program for younger children because it correlates emotion with learning readiness. Other programs use Plutchik’s emotion wheel to recognize opposing emotions, emotional intensities, and emotional combinations.

Students must go beyond identifying emotions to transition from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning. They must feel in control of their lives and feelings.

Talk about ways to self-regulate when their emotions overwhelm them. Research shows that engaging in mindfulness practices is key to self-regulation. There are great apps, books, and games to help teach mindfulness strategies. The strategies are often as simple as counting to ten, breathing deeply, and positive self-talk. Remind them that self-care, such as getting sufficient sleep, exercise, and human contact, are vital ingredients to self-regulation too. Edutopia’s list of mindfulness resources for distance learning offers some helpful suggestions.

Identifying and Referring Children 

Some of your students need more than what a listening, caring teacher can provide. They will require action, and the best way you can be a superhero is by connecting those students with the appropriate person. As a mandatory reporter, you must contact child protective services if you hear of abuse. Let professional investigators do the rest.

Teach your students about various resources available to them. Many school communities have hotlines, counselors, and other professionals that students can reach out to and ask for help. Provide a list of community programs to help with food, health, and clothing. Depending on the population you serve, you may want to alert them about which programs require proof of residency.

Academic Rewards are only the Beginning

Students who feel unsafe, unloved, and unworthy often struggle to remember information, understand concepts, apply new skills, or create things. You might say that the “lizard” part of the brain (amygdala) must be calm before the “wizard” brain (frontal cortex) functions optimally. The lizard part of the brain is the part that operates flight or fight responses, while the wizard part drives decision-making, self-control, and creativity.

Of course, emotionally supporting your students helps them in areas beyond learning. Young people need to learn how to navigate complex social relationships too. A teacher that communicates, “I hear you.” “I see you.” “I care about you.” will affect students profoundly and positively. That message has a rippling effect throughout the community.