thinksrsd.com

What It Is

Releasing Writers (formerly think SRSD) is a provider of professional development in writing instruction for K–12 schools and education systems. Its core focus is SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development), Structured Written Expression, and the broader Science of Writing. It is not simply a platform selling pre-recorded courses; instead, it combines e-learning, live sessions, in-person PD, coaching, and whole-school change consulting. Its main audiences are teachers, coaches, principals, school districts, and state-level education agencies.

Core Approach and Faculty

Based on the available text, its courses and training emphasize evidence-based writing strategies, deliberate skill practice, student independence in writing, and improved overall ELA outcomes. The website mentions that its methods draw on Donald Deshler’s SIM, SRSD by Karen Harris and others, sentence- and word-level instruction from Charles Haynes, and research on writing assessment. The team is led by founder Dr. Leslie Laud and includes classroom teachers, school leaders, literacy coaches, researchers, and content developers, many of whom have years of experience implementing programs in schools or scaling them across districts. The text also references evidence such as effect sizes from randomized controlled studies and improvements in school ELA proficiency, which strengthens its professional credibility.

Pricing and Delivery

The main website content does not disclose specific pricing, course hours, packages, refund policies, or payment methods, so budget evaluation requires contacting the organization directly. Delivery formats are fairly varied, including e-learning modules, live web calls, in-person PD, hybrid PD, personalized mentoring, school network communities, and free resources. Its POWeR Cycle is better suited to schools seeking whole-school transformation in writing instruction, rather than individual users who only want to learn a single writing technique in the short term.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are a clear research-driven orientation and an emphasis on experience implementing writing instruction at scale in schools. Its faculty profile is closely connected to frontline classroom practice and school leadership. It also supports both online and offline delivery, making it suitable for long-term, school-based implementation. The drawbacks are also obvious: the public information on the website is not very purchase-friendly, with limited details on pricing, course outlines, certification/credentials, language options, and service boundaries. Its cases and messaging are mainly centered on the U.S. K–12 and ELA assessment system, so Chinese schools would need to independently assess alignment with their curriculum standards, language environment, and local adaptation needs.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is best suited to K–12 schools, school districts, international schools, or education organizations looking to systematically improve English writing instruction, teacher PD, and literacy coaching capacity. It may also be useful for teams focused on special education or writing support for students with language difficulties. If you are an individual parent or student in China looking for writing classes, the fit may be limited. The review text does not provide information on accessibility from China, so its status is unknown. Before using it, it is advisable to test access to the website, video resources, Facebook/YouTube communities, and online meeting tools.