What Is CLASS? An Instructional Approach to Support Language Learners and All Students

By TXCEE

Professional learning is most effective when it is sustained, collaborative, and closely connected to classroom practice. To understand how CLASS is working in schools, the Texas Center for Educator Excellence (TxCEE) partnered with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct an independent, multi‑year evaluation of the program.

The infographic featured here highlights Part 1 of findings from the 2025 evaluation, focusing on core elements of CLASS implementation that educators and instructional leaders report are working well.

CLASS integrates collaborative learning, practical instructional guidance, and ongoing implementation supports to help teachers strengthen instruction over time. The 2025 findings point to strong engagement with these elements, in particular the ways teachers are learning with and from one another through Collaborative Learning Communities.

These findings help answer an important question: What aspects of CLASS implementation are resonating with educators and supporting day‑to‑day instructional practice?

Teachers and leaders describe value in:

• The structure and routine of Collaborative Learning Communities
• The CLASS Roadmap as a planning and instructional tool
• Ongoing, responsive coaching supports that help adapt CLASS to local contexts

Together, these insights provide a clearer picture of how CLASS is being experienced on the ground and where the program is creating meaningful conditions for professional learning.

Looking ahead

This post represents the first installment of 2025 CLASS evaluation findings. In the coming months, we will share additional results, including findings related to teachers’ use of CLASS‑aligned instructional practices. Later this year, we also anticipate sharing results from the next evaluation cycle. AIR is additionally evaluating the middle school version of the program, MS CLASS.

CLASS is developed and implemented by TxCEE and independently evaluated by AIR.

📩 Learn more about CLASS: Rick Garner (rick.garner@esc18.net)
📊 Learn more about the evaluation: Patrick Rich (prich@air.org)