Susan Kowalski, PhD
Lead Research Scientist
Susan Kowalski’s work focuses on the intersection of educational policy and science instruction in the United States. Her research employs quantitative and descriptive methods to explore the impact of state and district decisions on science education, including curriculum development and professional learning experiences.
Before joining NWEA, Dr. Kowalski was a senior research scientist and director of research at BSCS Science Learning. She began her career teaching high school physics and physical science in Bloomington, Minnesota, and earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota.
Publications by Susan Kowalski


Integrating Literacy and Science: A Powerful Partnership for Student Success
This research brief explores the connection between science and literacy instruction documenting the benefits of integrated science and literacy instruction at the elementary level, and highlighting the benefits of integrating instruction while providing research-based guidance on how to effectively do this.
By: Susan Kowalski, Ayesha K. Hashim, Scott J. Peters
Topics: Growth, Equity, Informing instruction, Math & STEM


Practitioner’s Guide to Integrating Literacy and Science
This is the accompanying guide to the research brief, Integrating Literacy and Science: A Powerful Partnership for Student Success, which describes four key components of effective integration of literacy and science instruction at the elementary level. In this practitioner’s guide, we provide sample lessons to demonstrate each of these components in action in an elementary classroom.
By: Scott J. Peters, Susan Kowalski, Ayesha K. Hashim
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Equity, Growth, Informing instruction, Math & STEM


COVID’s impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024
This new report examines the pandemic’s impacts on academic achievement and gain in Science and continues ongoing research by NWEA® analyzing the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated school closures, influenced student learning.
By: Susan Kowalski, Scott J. Peters, Megan Kuhfeld, Gustave Robinson, Karyn Lewis
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Technical Brief – COVID’s impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024
This is the accompanying technical brief to the new report (Covid’s impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024) that examines the pandemic’s impacts on academic achievement and gain in Science and continues ongoing research by NWEA® analyzing the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated school closures, influenced student learning.
By: Susan Kowalski, Scott J. Peters, Megan Kuhfeld, Gustave Robinson, Karyn Lewis
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Effective summer programs: Practical guidance for district leaders
This report dives into the research on summer programs, their implementation and design, as well as the efficacy of those programs for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes. It also provides recommendations for district leaders to use as a framework for planning and implementing effective summer programming.
By: Miles Davison, Jazmin Isaacs, Sofia Postell, Michael Gaddis, PhD, Ayesha K. Hashim, Susan Kowalski, Karyn Lewis
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth, Guidance, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss