The instructional core is the relationship between the teacher, the student, and the content. At its center is the task—the actual work students are asked to do.

To improve student learning at scale, we must simultaneously address three levers:

1. Increase Rigor: Elevate the complexity of the content.

2. Enhance Expertise: Build teacher skill and knowledge.

3. Activate Learning: Increase student engagement with the content.

True improvement only occurs when these elements evolve together. If you change one, you must change the others to impact student outcomes.