In teaching, “fidelity” refers to closely following specific procedures for how to teach a lesson or respond to student behavior. For example, following a curriculum to fidelity might mean a teacher is required to read from a script, use a certain tone or expression, or teach from a designated page in a guidebook on a specific day.
In the past 20 years, teachers have experienced diminished control over what and how they teach. Simultaneously, the idea of teaching to fidelity has increasingly become the norm. Today, policymakers commonly suggest that fidelity is synonymous with good teaching. While prevalent across the country, this kind of micromanaging is more common in urban and rural schools that serve low-income and minority students.
