— Our Story
Our Story
Starting small. Co-designing with practitioners. Measuring rigorously.
Throughline Learning (formerly Highlander Institute) was originally incorporated as the Bradford Dunn Institute in 1999 and sat relatively dormant until merging with Highlander Charter School in 2006. Since then, we've spent nearly two decades working alongside schools as partners, asking a fundamental question.
The question that drives us
How do we make evidence-based instructional practices actually work for the students and communities most marginalized by traditional education systems?
— Our Evolution
An evolution built on continuous learning
Our evolution reflects continuous learning. We began with a narrow focus on reading disabilities in Providence, where only 20% of students were reading at grade level. Over the years, our scope expanded—from literacy instruction to blended learning to personalized learning—but we kept confronting the same limitation: layering innovation atop inequitable systems produces inequitable results. Technology alone doesn't solve instructional challenges. New pedagogies fail when they don't account for students' cultural identities and lived experiences.
Layering innovation atop inequitable systems produces inequitable results.
Technology alone doesn't solve instructional challenges.
— A Turning Point
2020
Rebuilt around Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Pedagogy
This realization led to our most significant evolution. In 2020, we rebuilt our entire approach around Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Pedagogy (CRSP), centering the identities, strengths, and agency of historically marginalized students. This framework generates the strongest teacher and student outcomes we've seen in our history.
— Built in Real Classrooms
Tools shaped by action research
Throughout this journey, we've developed and disseminated resources as we've learned and improved. Each tool reflects lessons learned from on-the-ground action research in real classrooms with real constraints.
Framework & Book
Pathways to Personalization
Our framework for school change, published in 2018.
Survey
Student Experience Survey
A tool for measuring student engagement.
Self-Assessment
Priority Practices Tool
A self-assessment of research-based classroom practices.
Fellowships
Fellowship Models
Building educator capacity through collaborative learning.
— 2023
In 2023, we rebranded as Throughline Learning to reflect our commitment to coherence: drawing clear lines between research, practice, and community needs.
— Today
Our impact today
Today, we support approximately 1,250 teachers annually across 40+ partner schools, impacting over 22,000 students—predominantly in diverse urban Rhode Island and Massachusetts districts including Providence, Central Falls, Woonsocket, and Newport.
— The Next Chapter
Our current AI integration focus represents the next chapter: leveraging emerging technologies to reduce teacher burden while maintaining the culturally responsive, student-centered practices that drive equitable outcomes.
— Let's Connect
Ready to close the
implementation
gap?
Tell us which evidence-based practices you want to see more often in your classrooms, and we'll set up a call.
Start the conversation
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