Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) at PC

SRSD Writing Instruction and Professional Learning Grant

Scaling SRSD 2022-24 Initial Findings and Outcomes

Between 2022 and 2024, the Scaling SRSD project provided professional learning for teachers in 83 schools from 35 school districts across the US creating and working with three cohorts of Scaling SRSD schools.

In 2022-2023, the Scaling SRSD project supported SRSD implementation in 33 schools where 9,511 students were in classrooms with teachers who were trained and implemented SRSD.

In 2023-2024, the Scaling SRSD project supported SRSD implementation in 21 additional schools where 3,180 additional students were in classrooms with teachers who were trained and implemented SRSD.

In 2024-2025, the Scaling SRSD project is supporting SRSD implementation in 29 additional schools where 5,138 additional students were in classrooms with teachers who were trained and implemented SRSD. Thus far, we have reached more than 17,000 students as part of the Scaling SRSD project.

Scaling SRSD continues to build on success

Our analysis of interview and implementation data showed that schools continued to build on success and ensure continued improvement in the second year of implementation by:

maintaining a strong commitment to supporting instructional coaches;
integrating SRSD into the daily instruction;
ensuring dedicated time for ongoing teacher growth; and
building customized systems by embedding SRSD into your pacing guides, curriculum, data reviews, and school improvement plans.

Sustaining SRSD takes more than a strong first year — it requires a long-term plan. That’s where Scaling SRSD schools succeed. Together, we can ensure lasting impact by:

Offering teachers refresher training to strengthen SRSD practice;
Providing facilitators, our school-based coaches, with time, ongoing mentoring and resources for leadership and coaching;
Continuing to update SRSD Online materials based on school feedback;
Supporting schools and districts as they embed SRSD into pacing guides, curriculum, and improvement plans for long-term sustainability

By doing this, we are shifting both the belief in and expertise of SRSD from the Scaling SRSD project and SRSD Online to our school and district teams, establishing lasting systems and structures to support ongoing success.

A two-year investment in SRSD professional learning school-wide matters.

“SRSD gave us the tools. Now, it’s part of who we are — and our students are thriving because of it.”

“We’re not just teaching writing — we’re building confident, independent thinkers. That’s why we’re sustaining SRSD.”

“When you support teachers and coaches, SRSD becomes more than a program — it becomes lasting change.”

About the Project
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Our Scaling SRSD research project seeks Title One K-5 elementary schools needing evidence-based solutions to elevate writing instruction and boost student performance. Backed by renowned organizations that include Providence College, the American Institutes for Research, SRSD Online Partners, and the National Writing Project and with financial support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program, the Scaling SRSD team is committed to high-quality research and actionable results for your schools and district.

Why Is This Research Study Critical?
Our research is not just academic — it aims to close real-world gaps in writing instruction and achievement disparities. The substantial evidence behind SRSD’s impact on writing skills and emotional regulation underscores the significance of our work. We are committed to fine tuning the implementation of SRSD to minimize teacher burden, enhance the role of school-based facilitators, leverage adaptive technologies, and underscore the importance of social-emotional learning across subjects.

What is SRSD?
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Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) is a proven teaching method backed by over 30 years of research, including multiple studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals and receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. This level of scrutiny ensures that SRSD meets the highest standards for effective writing instruction and self-regulation techniques that have consistently been shown to improve student writing skills and foster independent learning.

SRSD empowers students to manage their thoughts and emotions during the writing process while developing a unique voice. SRSD addresses the mechanics of writing and tackles students’ motivation and beliefs about their abilities. The approach transforms students from being teacher-dependent to independent learners who set goals. Essentially, SRSD equips students with tailored strategies for specific writing tasks, across genres, enabling them to plan, organize, and self-reflect on their work.

For teachers, it is equipped with formative assessments that make personalizing instruction more straightforward than ever. However, the real magic happens when an entire school adopts SRSD. The method’s focus on social-emotional learning aligns perfectly with whole-school initiatives, paving the way for academic achievement.

Administrators & Leaders
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As a school leader, you always look for impactful, evidence-based programs to elevate your school’s academic performance. The Scaling SRSD research project offers a comprehensive framework for whole-school, and even whole-district, writing excellence, backed by the U.S. Department of Education and multiple respected institutions. School-wide implementation of SRSD requires a leadership team of three to plan for, champion, and support teachers as they learn and integrate the evidence based practices of SRSD into their writing instruction. Learn more by clicking the button below.

Roles of Administrators and Leaders

Benefits of the Program?
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Results: Our approach is data-driven and designed to deliver measurable improvements in student writing skills. Beyond academics, we focus on social-emotional well-being, ensuring a holistic educational experience and generalization into all disciplines.

Whole-School Writing Excellence: This is not just about improving one grade or class but systemic improvement. Your entire school will benefit from a unified, proven approach to writing instruction after a two-year phased in implementation.

Teacher Training: Teachers receive comprehensive teacher training that is online, self-paced, professional learning, tailored to different writing genres and grade levels from SRSD Online partners. Additionally, they provide year-round support, featuring regular webinars and mentorship from experienced educators.

Facilitator Training: Besides the online teacher training, school facilitators will receive extra specialized training throughout the year, with a separate online course and additional mentorship. Administrators will be invited to key Zoom meetings to ensure alignment with broader school objectives.

Experienced Mentoring: Our SRSD Online partners includes experts in the field of education, and you will have regular Zoom touchpoints to discuss implementation strategies, troubleshoot issues, and celebrate successes.

Curriculum Compatible: Are you worried about fitting this into your existing curriculum? Do not be. Our SRSD approach is designed to integrate seamlessly with current teaching methods and subjects. We understand that science of writing and reading approaches are essential for students’ literacy development.

Long-Term Benefits: This project provides an excellent opportunity for school leaders to pioneer a shift toward evidence-based writing instruction that improves student outcomes and supports teacher development. It is a win-win that will leave a lasting impact on your educational community.

SRSD Professional Learning Model

Scaling SRSD: Year Two

Scaling SRSD Project Overview

Thank you for your interest in the Scaling SRSD project. We have concluded our recruitment for school districts to participate in our EIR research project but welcome the opportunity to share with you opportunities to bring SRSD to your district based on what we have learned. SRSD Online offers an effective, flexible, doable professional development model for SRSD writing instruction. The components of the professional development model were developed and refined over the past two years as part of the Scaling SRSD EIR research project.

The result is a powerful professional learning approach that is ready to be shared widely and customizable for different school/district contexts. It includes a combination of online Writing to Learn teacher modules, professional learning for school-based facilitators, train-the-trainer practice-based professional development materials, and SRSD genre unit plans. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing how you can bring this SRSD writing professional development to your district. Contact SRSD@providence.edu.

SRSD at Providence College Flyer
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Partners

Resources

Project Director

Laura Hauerwas, Ph.D.
Project Director, Scaling SRSD, Professor of Elementary Special Education

Laura Hauerwas, Ph.D., professor of education at Providence College (R.I.) brings extensive expertise and a strong focus on evidence-based strategies to her role as the project director of the Scaling SRSD grant program. With a background in educational research and a track record of managing successful studies, she is deeply committed to providing top-notch support and guidance to participating schools. Inclusive systems perspectives and a commitment to practice-based innovation make Laura not just a researcher, but at heart an education practitioner.

She holds advanced degrees in educational research, has published extensively in respected academic journals, and is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences on reading and writing instruction, Multi-Tiers Systems of Support and globally conscious teacher education practices. Whether it is delivering benefits to teachers and students, guiding future teachers, or steering impactful educational initiatives, Laura’s credentials and dedication make her the ideal person to lead this SRSD grant project to success.

Providence College Elementary/Special Education Professor Laura Hauerwas discusses her background at PC and shares her vision for the recent $11.3 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education, the largest grant award in the college’s history.