Transform Your School Climate with PAL 2.0

Now Recruiting Middle Schools for Cohort 3 (2027-2028 School year)

Cohort 3 is the final federally funded cohort! This is your last chance to access this professional learning at little to no cost to your district.

What would your teachers do with 30 more minutes of instruction every week?

PAL 2.0 transforms classroom management from reactive discipline to proactive, prosocial engagement.

What is PAL 2.0?

PAL Classrooms 2.0 is a federally funded professional learning initiative that equips middle school teachers with research-backed, proactive classroom management strategies. Developed by the eMINTS National Center at the University of Missouri, PAL 2.0 helps teachers build prosocial classrooms where students are engaged, self-regulated, and ready to learn — without adding burden to teachers' already-full plates.

Why Participate in PAL Classrooms 2.0

The Prosocial Advantage: We are changing the approach to discipline by helping teachers be proactive, creating a classroom environment where every student feels comfortable, welcome, and ready to learn.

Professional Learning That Works With Your Teachers

Most classroom management programs feel like "one more thing" on a teacher's plate. PAL 2.0 is different. We provide teachers with highly effective, research-based classroom management practices that integrate seamlessly into everyday teaching.

No Scripted Lessons: These strategies are designed to be woven into existing instruction, not taught as a separate, rigid curriculum.
Student Self-Regulation: Rather than just managing "unwanted behavior," PAL 2.0 helps teachers create an environment where students learn to regulate their own actions, collaborate with peers, and treat others with kindness and respect.
Reclaim Your Classroom: Because these strategies are proactive and integrated, they work. In our Texas pilot study, teachers gained an average of 30 minutes of instruction per week, time previously lost to reactive discipline.

Project Eligibility

Is Your School Eligible for PAL Classrooms 2.0 Cohort 3 (2027–2028)?

Schools serve middle school students in grades 6–8 (or equivalent middle-level configuration).
Located anywhere in the United States (public or charter schools that receive federal funds are welcome).
Has at least 2 teachers who support 6–8 grade students and are willing/able to participate in a self-paced, asynchronous, online professional learning course designed to enhance classroom management practices (all teachers in relevant grades are encouraged to join for maximum impact!).
Has a school/district leader (principal or designee) who can sign a Letter of Commitment and support implementation.
Able to participate in research activities (e.g., surveys, optional low-burden classroom observations: fully supported and de-identified).
No prior eMINTS experience required. This is open to new partners!

*Note: Cohort 3 is the final federally funded opportunity to participate in this initiative at little to no cost to your district.

Program Impact

Instructional Time

Teachers in 100+ Middle School Math Classrooms across Texas shared that they had a gain of, on average, 30 minutes of instructional time per week.

Less time spent dealing with unwanted behavior.
More time on instruction.
Greater opportunities for high-quality learning experiences.

Self-Efficacy

Teachers in PAL Classrooms 1.0 showed a statistically significant increase in Teacher Self-Efficacy overall, ES = 0.52, across all three domains. Meaning teachers believed they could have a positive impact on:

Student Engagement
Classroom Management
Instructional Strategies

Student Behavior

Students in PAL Classrooms 1.0 showed a statistically significant increase in behavioral engagement, ES = 0.22. Meaning students:

Showed more focus on class tasks and assignments
Higher rates of participation in class discussions and learning activities
Greater investment in learning experiences

0.0 PAL Testimonials 1080 25.mp4

Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it! See and hear what PAL Classrooms looks like from the teachers who've been through it.

"PAL Classrooms re-energize teachers. It helps teachers to feel happier and more content in their work. By focusing on positives, we can help reduce teacher stress and burnout!"

-Christi Bergin

Ready to Learn More? Schedule A 30-Minute Info Call

Cohort 3 is the final federally funded cohort. Once these slots are filled, this opportunity closes. If the project caught your attention, a 30-minute call is the fastest way to determine whether PAL Classrooms 2.0 is the right fit for your school.

On the call, you'll speak directly with our project team and walk away with clear answers to questions like:

What does participation actually look like for my teachers and administrators?
What is the time commitment, and how does it fit into our school year?
How does the research component work, and what data is involved?
What comes next if we decide to move forward?

There's no obligation to commit, just a conversation. Spots are limited and filling quickly for the 2027–2028 school year.

Schedule Your 30-Minute Call

Prefer to reach us directly? Contact Dr. Jen Foster at fosterjen@missouri.edu or 417-274-1894.

Professional Learning Tracks

Teachers

Implementing PAL Strategies

Self-paced online course
Book study
Virtual community of practice and online coaching

$1000 Stipend

Teacher-Leaders

Teacher Course +

Additional course in adult mentoring
Plan and support teachers in completing the teacher course

$1400 Stipend

Administrators

Support & Sustainability

Mini-lessons on supporting teachers in implementing PAL Classroom Strategies
Develop a plan for sustainability
Virtual community of practice and online coaching

$400 Stipend

*Note: Stipends are paid to the district, which then pays the participants.

Path to Participation

Express Interest

Action: Complete Registration Form (2 min.)

Goal: Provide basic school details, so we can follow up.

Connect & Learn

Action: Attend a virtual informational meeting (30 min.)

Goal: We will walk you through the specifics and answer your questions.

Formalize Partnership

Action: Submit a Letter of Commitment (30 min.)

Goal: This document outlines the commitment and secures your district's participation.

Cohort Launch

Action: Participate (PD one semester, Data Collection 1 school year)

Goal: Your team gains access to the professional learning materials and support.

Cohort 3 (2027 - 2028 School Year) Research Design

Once your MOU is signed, your school will be randomly assigned to either the Summer/Fall Track (Professional Learning begins June 2027) or the Winter/Spring Track (Professional Learning begins November 2027).

Important: Both tracks receive the identical professional learning curriculum and the same stipend opportunities for teachers and administrators within the same school year. This design allows us to maintain the rigorous standards required by the U.S. Department of Education, while ensuring every participating school benefits.

Research Partnership & Timeline

Because this project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, we are required to conduct a rigorous evaluation of PAL 2.0's effectiveness. This allows us to offer these high-level professional learning tracks to your district at little to no cost. American Institutes of Research (AIR) is our external evaluation partner that supports data collection and analysis.

Data Collection Components

Brief Surveys: Short, 20-minute surveys for students, teachers, and administrators to capture shifts in school culture and efficacy are conducted at the beginning, middle, and end of the project.

Classroom Snapshots: To see the strategies in action, teachers record two class periods per year. These are used solely for research purposes to measure instructional growth.

Select Interviews: Select participants may be invited to participate in brief interviews to help the team better understand the impact and cost of participating in the project.

Demographic Data: AIR will collect additional demographic data, attendance records, state assessment data, etc. to assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Secure Data Sharing: AIR coordinates directly with your district for a secure, fully de-identified transfer of necessary student and teacher data. The process is low-burden for your team and strictly follows University of Missouri IRB guidelines and all applicable privacy standards.

Reclaim instructional time. Empower teachers. Improve student Behavior. Build prosocial classrooms.

Complete this form to share your interest in participating in the PAL Classrooms 2.0 project.

*Note: After you submit this form, we’ll email you a 30-minute virtual info session calendar invite. You can say ‘no thanks’ at any point.”

Contact Dr. Jen Foster at fosterjen@missouri.edu or 417-274-1894, project coordinator, University of Missouri, eMINTS National Center.

*Note: This is a federally-funded research project approved by the University of Missouri IRB. Participation is completely voluntary. You may decline or withdraw at any time without any impact on your school or district.

Report abuse