Current Projects

CDL's services reach those affected by its mission:

To improve the life chances of all children, especially those at high risk, by increasing school success.

Following is a list of some of our current projects. If you would like more information about any of these projects, please contact us.

Learning Profiles: Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners. This professional development program for teachers and principals results in increased student achievement and a reduction in the number of students referred to special education. Teacher and principals gain in-depth instruction on the technical and practical aspects of the components of the learning process and instructional strategies and tactics for teaching diverse learners. Educators learn how to account for the needs of all students, develop an array of skills and strategies to diagnose and respond to multiple learning factors and situations, engage students more completely in learning, and create learner-centered classrooms. Learn more about this professional development program.

Right from Birth Parent Training . Based on Craig and Sharon Ramey’s book Right from Birth, this parent training provides low-income, disadvantaged parents, expectant parents and primary caregivers of children ages birth to three years with practical strategies on how to increase their children’s intellectual, social, and emotional development so they will start school ready to learn and become successful students. Craig and Sharon Ramey consider CDL to be the official ‘trainer of trainers’ for the Right from Birth Parenting Series. Learn more about this parent training program.

PLAIN TALK About Reading – An SBRR Institute. CDL has created an annual forum for educators and experts to exchange knowledge gleaned from scientifically based reading research. Including the nation's top reading experts, researchers and practitioners, the Institutes address (1) how children learn to read, (2) why some children have difficulties learning to read, (3) how we can remediate reading difficulties, and (4) how we can prevent reading difficulties. Sessions deliver current information and best practices on phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, assessment, adolescent literacy, family literacy, instruction, writing skills, and other reading and language disorders. Join us in Houston, March 31-April 2, 2008 for the next Reading Institute. Learn more about this reading institute.

Student Success Services. CDL’s direct services include neurodevelopmental, psychoeducational, and psychological evaluations, consultations, and individual and family therapy. CDL helps children, their families and their teachers understand the students’ cognitive, social and emotional profiles using comprehensive assessment methods, including formal and informal testing, interviews, rating scales and questionnaires, that obtain information from multiple sources. Learn more about CDL’s clinical services.

Regional Professional Development Academy . The purpose of establishing a Professional Development Academy (Academy) is to increase student achievement by both supporting and providing the continuing education and professional development of educators. The Academy’s professional development will be founded on scientifically based research that applies to teaching and learning. “Educators” is defined as teachers, principals, administrators, and parents. With a clearly defined set of standards, the Academy will serve as a clearinghouse, a provider, and an evaluator of professional development services.

PLAIN TALK About Kids.The cornerstone of CDL’s public engagement effort includes a three-day national summit on teaching and learning and 16 follow-up forums across the state. PLAIN TALK summit proceedings have been included in the U.S. Department of Education’s Educational Resources and Information Center-Clearinghouse for Urban Education (ERIC-CUE), an honor usually reserved for university publications. Purchase a copy of summit proceedings.

Newsbrief on Teaching and Learning. CDL distributes a free e-newsletter (click here to subscribe). Full of timely, research-based information on learning and teaching, these newsletters are widely distributed and further circulated by its recipients.