Educational Model Redevelopment
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS - COMMUNITY SURVEY
A school district’s Educational Model is the big-picture framework that reflects the values of the school district and its community, defining how teaching and learning take place across all schools in the system. A district’s Educational Model ties together grade configurations, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and culture, creating a consistent pathway designed to help every student succeed.
Redeveloping our Educational Model represents a proactive, strategic step toward ensuring that Dedham Public Schools remains a future-ready, student-centered district able to make well-informed, creative, and fiscally responsible decisions that balance the dual imperatives of educational innovation and facility sustainability.
The redevelopment of the Educational Model will proceed in tandem with strategic facilities planning, so that the District can evaluate creative, feasible solutions that optimize student learning outcomes and the long-term stewardship of community assets. This dual focus will allow Dedham Public Schools to explore innovative approaches such as:
- Reimagining how existing spaces can be repurposed or rehabilitated to support modern instructional practices;
- Evaluating alternative school configurations that better serve student developmental and programmatic needs;
- Considering strategic facility replacement or consolidation where appropriate; and
- Ensuring that any future capital investments are directly informed by educational priorities and equity considerations.
A new Educational Model will integrate academic visioning, community engagement, and facilities strategy into a comprehensive framework for long-term transformation.
The District’s Educational Model and the Town’s Facilities Master Plan are inherently connected—one defines what the District WANTS teaching and learning to look like, and the other determines WHERE and HOW that vision can be supported through physical spaces. Running these two processes in parallel creates an opportunity for alignment and efficiency.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEDHAM FACILITIES MASTER PLAN PROJECT VISIT:
Project Updates
![Upcoming Community Listening Sessions via Zoom]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1777576561/dedhamk12maus/x3ppkpc6dmprqltm43f6/EdModelFMPBanner2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1777576561/dedhamk12maus/x3ppkpc6dmprqltm43f6/EdModelFMPBanner2025.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1777576561/dedhamk12maus/x3ppkpc6dmprqltm43f6/EdModelFMPBanner2025.png","width":700}])
Dedham Public Schools are in the process of redeveloping the Educational Model, a framework that outlines and shapes how students will learn, grow and succeed as part of our school District. Community voice is especially important in this process, as the Educational Model helps define how students are prepared for life and careers after graduation, how our school facilities and support structures impact learning and how to navigate long-term financial sustainability.
Attend Upcoming Virtual Community Listening Sessions via Zoom:
- May 2 at 1:00pm - PreRegister at: bit.ly/4eDPMCh
- May 6 at 8:00pm - PreRegister at: bit.ly/4e3z6UC
![Ed Model Project - Community Survey Now LIVE]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692218516/dedhamk12maus/s23leta1qcfxkv0osute/permiticon.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692218516/dedhamk12maus/s23leta1qcfxkv0osute/permiticon.png","width":500}])
In partnership with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, the The Educational Model Review project is inviting the Dedham community to share its voices and perspectives on what Dedham Public Schools should prioritize moving forward.
Please Share Your Thoughts!
Now Open until Early May 2026 - an online Community Survey open to all Dedham residents - whether or not you have a child in Dedham Public Schools (DPS).
![Project Update - April 3, 2026: April Community Input Events Planned]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1773943432/dedhamk12maus/lnhcxqacoyoezyavklok/IMG_2272.jpg","width":2200}])
The Educational Model Review project will host several Community events in April as the project shifts its focus fully on gathering community input and perspectives. In partnership with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, the project to date has focused on existing data and documentation, getting to know the ins and outs of Dedham’s current educational model.
The next phase of the project, Community Engagement will be a key priority throughout the next 6 weeks, inviting the Dedham community to share its voices and perspectives on what Dedham Public Schools should prioritize moving forward.
Efforts underway to review and redevelop the Educational Model for the Dedham Public School were the featured focus on Wednesday evening at the March 18, 2026 School Committee meeting.
Representatives from the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy shared an overview of the project, outlining the purpose, goals and next steps in reimagining Dedham’s educational model with a focus on guiding the district’s future growth and long-term sustainability. Attendees at the meeting on Wednesday were invited to view preliminary data and share insights during a small group Data Walk exercise conducted during the meeting.
Read the full update for more details and links to meeting video, materials and Data Walk links.
![Project Update - March 4, 2026]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772648499/dedhamk12maus/rsfzwyn2laxgysvdeypp/EdModel-Intro.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772648499/dedhamk12maus/rsfzwyn2laxgysvdeypp/EdModel-Intro.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772648499/dedhamk12maus/rsfzwyn2laxgysvdeypp/EdModel-Intro.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772648499/dedhamk12maus/rsfzwyn2laxgysvdeypp/EdModel-Intro.png","width":940}])
Dedham Public Schools has officially launched its partnership with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy to lead a data-driven process to examine and update Dedham’s Educational Model. The Educational Model Review will examine how instructional models, grade configurations, program delivery, and physical learning environments work together, with the goal of ensuring that current and future plans for Dedham schools remain aligned with the instructional, social-emotional, and collaborative learning needs of our students.
An official Community Introduction event will be hosted during a public School Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:30pm.
Latest Materials & Presentations
View March 18, 2026 Community Kick-Off Presentation
This presentation by the Rennie Center focused on:
Introducing the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy
Explaining the Educational Model Redevelopment project and what has been done so far
Share next steps and upcoming opportunities for community involvement
Conclude with a Data Walk
A selection of graphs from initial Data Phase were posted around the room. This is a small selection from the ongoing data collection.
Attendees were invited to review the data and share input on what they noticed, what they wondered about, what they'd like to know more about.
Feel free to share any questions or comments on these slides using the following link:
Dedham Public Schools Data Walk Survey