P. Coyne examined DI implementations in the real world
What can we learn from the experiences of actual schools using Direct Instruction approaches?
Over on Paul’s Substack of Useful Information, Paul Coyne provided just what his ‘stack’s name said. In a post 20 April 2026, he provided snapshots of a half-dozen cases of school-scale, real-world implementations of Direct Instruction (“Big DI”),
So I thought, there must be some elementary schools that use DI curriculum in both general education and special education. I decided to locate a few of them and report back.
In his report, Mr. Coyne1 argued that DI has a long, well-documented record of effectiveness in improving student achievement, especially for those—including our kids—who are at risk of academic failure. He retraced some of its development and highlighted how its structured, explicit teaching methods contrast with more discovery-based or student-led approaches that have regularly dominated American education.
However, the bulk of his article, is not a rehash of Project Follow Through (though he mentioned it). It is a description of how real, live, functioning schools are using DI currently. What are the demographic characteristics of those schools? What are those DI schools doing? Who’s doing it? What outcomes are they seeing? What do teachers and parents say about it?
The schools about which he reported are in different areas of the US. Some are in the eastern part, some western. Some are in urban areas, some more suburban. They mostly serve primary grades, but some extend upwards. Some are stuck with DI for many years, but a couple have changed horses after being a DI school for a while; Mr. Coyne explained what happened in those latter sites.
If you haven’t already done so, scoot over to Paul’s Substack of Useful Information and read his post about DI implementations, “Direct Instruction in American Classrooms.” While you’re there, Dear Readers, you might want to subscribe to PSoUI.
Paul Coyne, who has a Ph.D. and experience behavior analysis and special education, directed preschool and clinical programs in California. He writes Paul’s Substack of Useful Information.
Footnote
I’m using the formal noun of address here. That overlooks two important points: (a) Paul Coyne has an earned doctoral degree, so I could quite legitimately use “Dr. Coyne”; and (b) Paul Coyne’s a friend of SET and when we correspond, I use the friendly “Paul.”