Achieve and the Teaching Channel have launched their new partnership by releasing three videos that introduce and explore Achieve’s Evaluating Quality Instructional Products (EQuIP) initiative.

The videos, which are publicly available for viewing on Teaching Channel’s website (www.teachingchannel.org), introduce the EQuIP Peer Review process and provide an in-depth look at real teachers using the mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) rubrics to evaluate the quality and alignment of lessons and units.

EQuIP was launched by Achieve as a means of identifying high-quality materials aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The objectives of the EQuIP initiative are) to increase the supply of high-quality lessons and units aligned to the CCSS that are available to elementary, middle, and high school teachers as soon as possible; and to build the capacity of educators to evaluate and improve the quality of instructional materials for use in their classrooms and schools.

The EQuIP rubrics are an addition to, not a replacement for, the Kentucky process already in place.

Lessons and units submitted to the EQuIP peer review panel are evaluated on a rubric with four dimensions: alignment to the standards, evidence of instructional shifts, evidence of instructional supports and assessment. Each dimension contains specific criteria and clear guideposts for using the rubric to provide feedback.

The EQuIP peer review panel is made up of 55 educators representing nearly half of the states. Since the program’s inception, EQuIP peer reviewers have identified and publicly posted 40 lessons/units rated “Exemplar” or “Exemplar if Improved.”

The three EQuIP videos produced by Teaching Channel provide an overview of the peer review process and introduction to the benefits for both ELA and mathematics teachers. Peer reviewers and Achieve staff explain the dimensions of the rubric as well as the ways in which EQuIP-reviewed products can be used in real classrooms.

All three videos can be viewed here: https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/08/08/video-playlist-strengthening-lessons-for-the-ccss-equip/

To learn more about EQuIP or download exemplary lessons and units, please visit www.achieve.org/EQuIP.