Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In Maryland, a district's decade of effort to train more than 4000 educators on how the brain learns best—so they can apply cognitive science in their own classrooms—begins to pay off.
It’s a challenge familiar to districts across the country: Educators working tirelessly to raise student achievement, yet not seeing the growth they hope for—particularly in traditionally underrepresented populations. In Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland, that frustration prompted a fundamental question: How much do we really understand about how learning happens? And how can we deepen that understanding, and translate it into our teaching? For the 48,000-student district, the answer meant embracing the science of learning—not as a program, but as a systemwide shift.
To learn more about this district, visit: edutopia.org/school/frederick-county-public-schools-fcps
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#brainbasedlearning #howlearninghappens #learningscience
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
In Maryland, a district's decade of effort to train more than 4000 educators on how the brain learns best—so they can apply cognitive science in their own classrooms—begins to pay off.
It’s a challenge familiar to districts across the country: Educators working tirelessly to raise student achievement, yet not seeing the growth they hope for—particularly in traditionally underrepresented populations. In Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland, that frustration prompted a fundamental question: How much do we really understand about how learning happens? And how can we deepen that understanding, and translate it into our teaching? For the 48,000-student district, the answer meant embracing the science of learning—not as a program, but as a systemwide shift.
To learn more about this district, visit: edutopia.org/school/frederick-county-public-schools-fcps
Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: edut.to/3wEVHUh
*Follow us here:*
Official Website: https://edutopia.org
YouTube: youtube.com/c/edutopia
Facebook: facebook.com/edutopia
Instagram: instagram.com/edutopia
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org
#brainbasedlearning #howlearninghappens #learningscience
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
