Educational Model Redevelopment Project

Examining and redefining how instructional models, grade configurations, program delivery, and physical learning environments work together to support the instructional, social-emotional, and collaborative learning needs of our students.

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.

A new Educational Model will integrate academic visioning, community engagement, and facilities strategy into a comprehensive framework for long-term transformation.

Who's Leading This Effort?

The work on developing an updated Educational Model for the District is being conducted under the guidance of an appointed Dedham School Committee subcommittee chaired by Josh Langmead, along with Chris Polito and Anthony Rodriguez, and in close collaboration with the DPS Leadership team.

Dedham Public Schools has partnered with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy to lead a data-driven process to examine and update Dedham’s Educational Model. The Rennie Center is a local education-focused non-profit based in Boston, MA whose mission is to improve public education through well-informed decision-making that’s based on deep knowledge and evidence of effective policymaking and practice. They are a nonpartisan organization that works to advance and connect research, practice, and policy, to promote systems that champion student success.

The Project Timeline

The Ed Model Redevelopment project will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1 is Data and Document Review, encompassing National and Local Research; Comprehensive Review of DPS Data; Classroom Visits for All 7 DPS Schools; and preliminary Student, Staff, and Family Focus Groups.

Phase 2 is focused on Community Engagement, where the Dedham community is invited to share its voices and perspectives on what Dedham Public Schools should prioritize moving forward. That phase will culminate in a Community Visioning Event, held in conjunction with the town of Dedham’s Art Show in May 2026.

Phase 3 is about the report and next steps. The Rennie Center will publish everything found and heard during the first two phases in a public report and presentation: The report will include findings, recommendations, and options for DPS moving forward. This actionable educational model redesign plan will provide a roadmap for aligning the structures, staffing, and facilities with Dedham Public Schools’ mission and strategic goals.


Examining and redefining how instructional models, grade configurations, program delivery, and physical learning environments work together to support the instructional, social-emotional, and collaborative learning needs of our students.

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.

A new Educational Model will integrate academic visioning, community engagement, and facilities strategy into a comprehensive framework for long-term transformation.

Who's Leading This Effort?

The work on developing an updated Educational Model for the District is being conducted under the guidance of an appointed Dedham School Committee subcommittee chaired by Josh Langmead, along with Chris Polito and Anthony Rodriguez, and in close collaboration with the DPS Leadership team.

Dedham Public Schools has partnered with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy to lead a data-driven process to examine and update Dedham’s Educational Model. The Rennie Center is a local education-focused non-profit based in Boston, MA whose mission is to improve public education through well-informed decision-making that’s based on deep knowledge and evidence of effective policymaking and practice. They are a nonpartisan organization that works to advance and connect research, practice, and policy, to promote systems that champion student success.

The Project Timeline

The Ed Model Redevelopment project will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1 is Data and Document Review, encompassing National and Local Research; Comprehensive Review of DPS Data; Classroom Visits for All 7 DPS Schools; and preliminary Student, Staff, and Family Focus Groups.

Phase 2 is focused on Community Engagement, where the Dedham community is invited to share its voices and perspectives on what Dedham Public Schools should prioritize moving forward. That phase will culminate in a Community Visioning Event, held in conjunction with the town of Dedham’s Art Show in May 2026.

Phase 3 is about the report and next steps. The Rennie Center will publish everything found and heard during the first two phases in a public report and presentation: The report will include findings, recommendations, and options for DPS moving forward. This actionable educational model redesign plan will provide a roadmap for aligning the structures, staffing, and facilities with Dedham Public Schools’ mission and strategic goals.


  • Project Update - March 4, 2026

    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.

    The meeting will be held

    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.

    The meeting will be held at the Dedham Public Safety building.

    During the meeting, project leaders from the Rennie Center will present an overview of the project, as well as preliminary findings from the data collection conducted to date. Attendees will also be invited to participate in facilitated listening activities and small-group inclusive discussions to gather stakeholder input and reactions to the findings presented, as well as to share priorities for Dedham’s educational future.

    Following the March 18 Community Introduction Meeting, the Rennie Center and Educational Model subcommittee will gather additional input via surveys, along with a series of online and in-person community conversations (dates to be announced shortly), culminating in a Community Visioning Event that will be held in conjunction with the District Art Show on May 21, 2026.

    The Rennie Center is a Massachusetts-based education nonprofit, and its team members have begun conducting research and data analysis to understand DPS context. As a part of the Rennie Center’s work, they have also begun visiting all seven Dedham schools to observe the teaching and learning experience in our buildings first-hand.

    The work on developing an updated Educational Model for the District is being conducted under the guidance of an appointed Dedham School Committee subcommittee chaired by Chris Polito, along with Josh Langmead, and Anthony Rodriguez, and in close collaboration with the DPS Leadership team.

Page last updated: 22 Sep 2026, 10:49 AM