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New NWEA Research Highlights How Coherent Instructional Systems Can Support Strong Student Growth

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Study uses lessons learned from a school that achieved twice the national average in academic growth in a school year

BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, released today a new research brief that offers a closer look at what it takes to translate strong instructional practices into meaningful improvements for students.

The study, “The Power of Connectedness: A Case for a Coherent Instruction System for Reading and Science Improvement,” examines the instructional practices behind strong academic growth at one elementary school in Texas. During the 2024–25 school year, students at the school achieved nearly twice the national average in academic growth in both reading and science. Researchers found that the school’s success was not driven by a single initiative, but by several interconnected components working together as a coherent instructional system:

Shared instructional vision: provided the foundation for instructional improvement by reducing ambiguity about what strong instruction looks like across classrooms.Aligned professional learning: transforming the instructional vision from a set of expectations into a learnable set of practices, giving teachers regular opportunities to plan, rehearse, and refine lessons together.Regular coaching and feedback: Consistent observations, coaching, and feedback reinforced professional learning and helped close the loop between instructional vision and classroom practice.

“Each of these practices is valuable on its own, but the real power came from how they worked together to accelerate student learning,” said Dr. Susan Kowalski, Lead Research Scientist at NWEA. “None of the individual components is new. What distinguishes this case is the intentional alignment among them: a shared vision for instruction, professional learning tied directly to that vision, and ongoing coaching and feedback, sustained through consistent instructional leadership across levels.”

The school for the study was identified using national MAP Growth data. It serves a high-poverty student population, high percentages of Black and Hispanic students, and many emergent multilingual students, while also experiencing high teacher turnover. Given the exceptional academic growth, the school was a bright spot in the data. NWEA researchers conducted interviews with district and school leaders, as well as teachers, to understand what practices and instructional routines contributed to the school’s outcomes.

The findings are especially relevant for districts working to improve instructional consistency amid staffing challenges, including high teacher turnover and a largely novice or early-career workforce. Rather than relying on individual veteran teachers or stand-alone initiatives, the school built a system designed to continuously strengthen instructional practice across classrooms.

That system was reinforced through a regular cadence of professional learning and coaching. Teachers participated in weekly 90-minute curriculum-based professional learning sessions where they unpacked curriculum content, practiced instructional strategies, anticipated student thinking, and received feedback from peers and leaders before teaching. School leaders also conducted frequent classroom walkthroughs — in some cases as many as 14 in a week — followed by targeted coaching and feedback.

Together, these structures helped create consistency between what teachers were expected to do, how they were supported in doing it, and how their practice was continuously refined.

Given the practical implications of this study, NWEA also released two supplemental guides to support other districts and schools interested in following this example:

Recipe for results: A district leader’s guide to curriculum-based professional learning Teacher’s guide to classroom practices that accelerate reading and science growth 

This study is a follow-up to the 2025 research brief titled “Integrating Literacy and Science: A Powerful Partnership for Student Success,” which explored the connection between literacy and science instruction, documenting the benefits of an integrated instructional approach at the elementary level.

Read the full research brief: https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/the-power-of-connectedness-a-case-for-a-coherent-instructional-system-for-reading-and-science-improvement/ 

About NWEA

NWEA®, a division of HMH, supports educators worldwide by providing responsive, evidence-based assessment solutions that illuminate learning needs and fuel student growth. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including its flagship assessment – MAP Growth – and professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice and improve student outcomes. As part of its commitment to bring valuable insights to the education community, NWEA engages in research that examines issues that shed light on inequities and other barriers to academic opportunities. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA partners to help all kids learn.

Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or 971.361.9526

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Equifax Announces Earnings Release Date and Conference Call for Third Quarter 2026 Results

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October 6, 2026

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ATLANTA, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) will announce its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, in a release to be issued on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Equifax will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on October 20, in which senior management will discuss financial and business results for the quarter. Related presentation materials will be published on investor.equifax.com on October 20 at 6:30 a.m. ET.

Conference Call:
US/Canada: 877-559-1190 / +1 201-389-0916
International: Click here for participant International Toll-Free access numbers

Please dial the appropriate number 5-10 minutes prior to the call to complete registration. Name and affiliation/company are required to join the call.

Webcast:
To view the webcast and slide presentation, please click the link and enter your information to be connected. The link becomes active 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available on investor.equifax.com beginning on October 21.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Molly Clegg for Equifax
molly.clegg@equifax.com

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SOURCE Equifax Inc.

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TCL Unveils Deep Discounts Across its Lineup of TVs, Mobile, Gaming and Audio Products at All Major Retailers

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October 6, 2026

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IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL®, a leading consumer electronics brand, today announced some of its biggest savings of the year, offering deep discounts across its TV, mobile, gaming monitor and audio portfolios starting today. For shoppers who missed August’s Back-to-School promotions or don’t want to wait until Black Friday for their next device upgrade, these fall deals offer the chance to save across TCL’s lineup, including up to 52% off SQD-Mini LED and QD-Mini LED TVs, up to 67% off gaming monitors with advanced refresh rates, up to 43% off premium audio products, and up to $150 off NXTPAPER mobile devices.

Big-Screen Savings: TV Deals Up To 52% OFF 

TCL’s Prime Day TV lineup includes aggressive pricing across its latest SQD-Mini LED and QD-Mini LED models, delivering premium performance at competitive price points. 

Highlighted TCL TV pricing includes: 

QM7L55-inch: $729.9998-inch: $2199.99QM8L65-inch: $1339.9985-inch: $2149.9998-inch: $3789.99QM64L 50-inch: $419.9955-inch: 449.9975-inch: $739.99F7D 43-inch: 249.9955-inch: 339.9975-inch: 589.99F8D 50-inch: $339.9955-inch: $379.9998-inch: 1,439.99M8LF (Best Buy only)55-inch: $379.9985-inch: $799.99

Level Up: Gaming Monitor Deals Up to 67% Off

TCL’s gaming monitor lineup delivers the performance and innovation of serious gamers demand. With advanced refresh rates, ultra-low latency, and premium display technology, TCL gaming monitors are engineered for competitive advantage and immersive gameplay. 

Featured TCL gaming monitor deals include: 

27C2A Pro Gaming Monitor: $599.9927P2A Pro Gaming Monitor: $219.99 (Walmart only)27C2GMA Gaming Monitor: $299.99 (Walmart only)

Turn Up the Sound: Audio Deals Up to 43% Off

TCL is also offering savings across its premium audio lineup, including sound bars and party speakers designed to complement large-screen viewing and gaming setups. 

Featured audio deals include: 

S60K Sound Bar: $169.99S65K Sound Bar: $249.99Z100 Speaker: $299.99 (with TV bundle $150 – buy any TCL Ultimate Series TV, get additional 50% off the $299.99 sale price)CyrstalClip: $49.99

Stay Connected: Mobile Tech Deals Up to $150 Off

TCL’s NXTPAPER display technology headlines its mobile deals, designed to deliver a paper-like viewing experience with reduced blue light for improved comfort and extended usability.

Featured mobile device offers include:
Tablets: 

TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER Tablet, 256GB: $499.99TCL Tab A1 Plus, 128GB: $179.99

Smartphones: 

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro Smartphone: Starting at $259.99 for 128GBTCL 60 XE NXTPAPER Smartphone: Starting at $169.99 for 128GB

*All prices are subject to change.

About TCL
TCL Electronics specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of consumer electronics including TVs, mobile phones, audio devices, smart home products, and appliances. Combining thoughtful design and innovative technology to inspire greatness, TCL delivers products and experiences that enhance everyday life. Supported by a vertically integrated global supply chain and world-class display manufacturing capabilities, TCL continues to expand its leadership across both consumer and commercial display markets.

For more information, visit https://www.tcl.com 

TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE TCL North America

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Hammerhead AI Announces Columbia University Research Collaboration on AI Factory Power Orchestration

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34 seconds ago

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October 6, 2026

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The collaboration will examine reinforcement-learning methods for coordinating power, cooling, and compute within operational and safety limits.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hammerhead AI today announced a research collaboration with Columbia University focused on reinforcement learning approaches to AI factory power orchestration.

The collaboration brings together Hammerhead’s engineering and simulation experience with a Columbia research team led by Prof. Clifford Stein, Wai T. Chang Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and Professor of Computer Science, along with researchers and graduate students in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. The parties expect to study how reinforcement learning, simulation, and control-policy evaluation can help coordinate power, cooling, and compute while respecting operational, reliability, and safety requirements.

“Power is increasingly a binding constraint on AI infrastructure, and the systems used to manage it must be rigorously evaluated before they are trusted in production environments,” said Rahul Kar, CEO and Founder of Hammerhead AI. “This collaboration with Columbia gives us the opportunity to formalize critical operational challenges, test new methods against realistic constraints, and advance the discipline of safe control for AI infrastructure.”

A Research Challenge With Operational Stakes
As AI demand grows, access to timely power capacity has become a material constraint on new deployment. In many U.S. markets, grid interconnection and power-delivery timelines can extend for years, increasing the value of making better use of capacity that is already available.

Addressing this challenge requires coordination across interconnected systems, including IT workloads, power infrastructure, thermal management, and site-level operating policies. These systems have competing objectives and hard constraints, including equipment limits, reliability requirements, and safety boundaries.

The research collaboration will explore how reinforcement-learning methods can be formulated, simulated, tested, and evaluated under these conditions. The work develops approaches to how AI factories use available power capacity more effectively while maintaining operator-defined controls and operating limits.

About Hammerhead AI
Hammerhead turns available power into deployable inference capacity in months, helping data center operators convert underutilized assets into new AI revenue. Its software platform, ORCA, orchestrates power, cooling, and compute to unlock at least 30% more capacity from existing infrastructure. Founded by veterans who have managed over 8 GW of mission-critical assets, Hammerhead is backed by leading investors including Buoyant Ventures and SE Ventures. Learn more at hammerheadco.ai or follow HammerheadAI, Inc. on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts
media@hammerheadco.ai 

Press Contact:

Hammerhead AI,
http://hammerheadco.ai/

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SOURCE Hammerhead AI

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