Research for Better Teaching

What Research for Better Teaching does

Research for Better Teaching, Inc. (RBT) is a privately held K-12 professional development firm founded in 1979 by Jon Saphier and headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts. The company delivers research-based training programs for teachers, instructional leaders, and central-office administrators across three trademarks: Skillful Teaching, Skillful Leadership, and Skillful Data Use. RBT's content is anchored in the proprietary Skillful Teacher framework, codified in the flagship publication The Skillful Teacher (now in its 8th edition, released in 2024) and supported by an 80+ video demonstration library hosted on Canvas LMS.

RBT's core product portfolio comprises roughly 15 named courses spanning foundational teacher practice (Studying Skillful Teaching, 37-hour flagship; Foundations in Teaching; High Expectations Teaching; Making Student Thinking Visible), leadership (Analyzing Teaching for Student Results; The Skillful Leader; Adult Professional Culture; Differentiated Conferencing; Women Leaders Program; Framework for Central Office Leaders), and collaborative data use (High-Impact Teacher Teams). Delivery occurs through three channels: (1) open-enrollment programs at RBT's Acton Conference Center and virtual/self-paced formats; (2) group programs for school districts with 25+ participants, including customized coaching and consulting; and (3) the In-District Instructor (IDI) program that trains and certifies district personnel to deliver RBT curricula internally.

RBT generates revenue primarily through per-seat course fees ($375 self-paced to $2,150 multi-day flagship), publication sales (books such as High Expectations Teaching, The Skillful Leader series, The Superintendent's Work with Principals), and consultative partnerships with school districts, state education departments, and international ministries. Pricing for individual courses is one-time perpetual license; district engagements are custom-quoted multi-year contracts. RBT claims reach across 41 U.S. states and 18 countries, 1,800+ school partners, 100+ districts served annually, and 14,000+ educators trained cumulatively. Flagship customer relationships include 25+ year engagements with Montgomery County Public Schools (MD) and Revere Public Schools (MA), a since-2014 partnership with Lane County ESD (OR), and a 2021 statewide contract with the Delaware Department of Education. RBT partners with Fitchburg State University to offer graduate credit for course completion. Leadership is founder-anchored: Jon Saphier (Founder), Deborah Reed (CEO, with RBT since 1990), and a small senior team with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Research for Better Teaching

Legal name

Research for Better Teaching, Inc.

Website

https://rbteach.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Research for Better Teaching (RBT) is a privately held K-12 professional development firm founded in 1979 that sells research-based courses, publications, and consulting to school districts, teachers, and administrators, anchored by its proprietary Skillful Teacher framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Educator Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Coaching & Teacher Professional Learning (School-Embedded) (EDAJAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research, Evaluation & Program Effectiveness Reporting (EDADAIAM)

Keywords

• Teacher professional development
• Instructional leadership training
• K-12 educator coaching
• School district consulting
• Professional learning communities

Headquarters

HQ city

Acton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Course Fees: RBT generates revenue through fees for open enrollment courses and group/district programs. Course prices range from $375 for self-paced online courses to $2,150 for comprehensive multi-day programs like Analyzing Teaching for Student Results.
2. Publications and Products: RBT publishes books including The Skillful Teacher (8th Edition), High Expectations Teaching, The Skillful Leader series, and The Superintendent's Work with Principals. These publications are sold through the RBT store and used in teacher training courses nationwide.
3. Graduate Credit Partnerships: RBT partners with Fitchburg State University to offer graduate credits for course completion, with participants paying additional fees directly to FSU for credit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Research for Better Teaching (RBT) provides research-based professional development programs for K-12 educators across three core areas: Skillful Teaching, Skillful Leadership, and Skillful Data Use. Its offerings include structured courses (e.g., Studying Skillful Teaching, Analyzing Teaching for Student Results), publications such as The Skillful Teacher (8th Edition), customized district consulting, coaching, systemic improvement engagements, and an In-District Instructor certification model that builds internal district capacity.

Product overview

Research for Better Teaching (RBT) is a professional development organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and publications focused on three core areas: Skillful Teaching, Skillful Leadership, and Skillful Data Use. The flagship offerings include the Studying Skillful Teaching (SST) course, Analyzing Teaching for Student Results (ATSR), and High-Impact Teacher Teams (TEAMS), supported by foundational publications including The Skillful Teacher (8th Edition). Programs are delivered through open enrollment courses, group programs for districts, customized consulting, and the In-District Instructor program. The organization also provides a video library with over 80 teaching demonstration videos and partners with Fitchburg State University for graduate credit options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studying Skillful Teaching (SST)

Quantifiable outcome

• Lane County: 96% reported SST modules provided useful knowledge and tools; 98% reported presenters were knowledgeable
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Learning Systems Associates (LSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSA partners with educational leaders, schools, and districts to help them evolve and lead with confidence. LSA offers customized consulting, professional development, and thought leadership that complements RBT's mission to grow high-expertise teaching. RBT includes LSA as a recommended organization for educators seeking additional support.
• Fitchburg State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBT is authorized to offer graduate credit options through FSU located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Participants completing RBT courses can optionally receive graduate credits for additional fees paid directly to FSU. This partnership enables educators to earn academic credit for professional development.
• Lane County Education Service District, ORcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2014, RBT has partnered with Lane County ESD to establish the Lane County Teaching and Learning Academy. RBT provides curriculum, training for In-District Instructors, and ongoing support. The partnership serves 16 school districts with nearly 1,200 staff completing SST modules.
• Montgomery County Public Schools, MDflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner25+ year partnership beginning in late 1990s. RBT co-constructed MCPS's Professional Growth System for teachers and administrators. MCPS has 11 certified In-District Trainers delivering RBT courses. All administrators required to take OAT 1 and OAT 2 courses. Partnership continues through the Center for Skillful Teaching.
• Delaware Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2021 multi-year contract to train and certify all administrators in the state on Analyzing Teaching for Student Results. Partnership includes training for teachers in Studying Skillful Teaching and developing DOE personnel capacity to deliver courses beginning in 2023.
• Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly 2000s partnership to train all administrators worldwide in Observing and Analyzing Teaching and Understanding Teaching courses. Over five years, RBT trained and certified 35 DoDDS personnel to continue teaching courses independently.
• Singapore Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLate 2000s partnership to design and deliver a course for all newly hired teachers in their first year of employment, partnering with the New Teacher Center before Ministry took over training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solution Tree: Solution Tree is a direct peer that provides K-12 professional development, books, conferences, and consulting built around instructional leadership frameworks (e.g., Marzano, DuFour). It competes with RBT for district PD budgets and PLC-related engagements.
• Corwin (Sage Publishing): Corwin is a direct peer offering K-12 professional development books, online courses, and consulting (e.g., Visible Learning, equity-centered coaching). Like RBT, it monetizes PD through publications plus facilitated programs for teachers and leaders.
• Learning Forward: Learning Forward is a direct peer and the leading professional association for effective professional learning, offering PD standards, consulting, and the Learning Forward Annual Conference. It is closely comparable to RBT as a PD authority targeting districts and instructional leaders.
• McREL International: McREL is a direct peer providing K-12 research-based professional development, coaching, and consulting to districts and state agencies. Its balanced leadership and classroom instruction work overlaps directly with RBT's Skillful Teaching and Skillful Leadership offerings.
• New Teacher Center: New Teacher Center is a direct peer focused on teacher induction, mentoring, and instructional coaching for new and veteran teachers. It is closely comparable to RBT's Foundations in Teaching and Studying Skillful Teaching programs and has worked with Singapore's MOE, mirroring RBT's international footprint.
• International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE): ICLE is a direct peer providing K-12 leadership development and consulting centered on rigor, relevance, and relationships. It overlaps with RBT's Skillful Leadership and central office leadership work for district and building administrators.
• Marzano Resources: Marzano Resources is a direct peer providing K-12 professional development, books, and consulting grounded in Robert Marzano's instructional frameworks. Like RBT, it monetizes a flagship researcher-brand methodology through books, courses, and district consulting.

Broad incumbents

• ASCD: ASCD is a broad incumbent educator association that offers PD books, conferences, and whole-child leadership resources. It overlaps with RBT on teacher effectiveness and instructional leadership but spans a much wider portfolio beyond RBT's focused Skillful Teaching framework.
• TNTP: TNTP is a broad incumbent nonprofit that partners with districts and states on teacher training, teacher residencies, and instructional leadership. It competes with RBT on systemic improvement engagements and state-level contracts but is larger and more diversified.

Emerging players

• Teach Plus: Teach Plus is an emerging player focused on teacher leadership and policy advocacy, with PD programs that develop teacher-leaders. It is comparable to RBT's Women Leaders Program and Skillful Leader content but with a stronger policy and equity framing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TeachRBT
• Facebookfacebook.com/TeachRBT

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Research for Better Teaching