While the road to achieve equity in education has always been challenging, the COVID-19 global pandemic has further complicated these efforts. Through AIR’s work with eight states as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s comprehensive center program, we are learning more about which strategies are showing promise. Here are ...
The Minnesota Department of Education administers about 65 surveys a year. These surveys help gauge needs, gather feedback, inform programs and policy, and fulfill legislative requirements. The Midwest Comprehensive Center partnered with the department in 2015 and 2016 to build the agency’s capacity in survey methodology, enhance overall survey quality, ...
This spotlight takes a look at the history of Title I, how the program has changed over time, and how it affects children, schools, families and education policy. Experts weigh in on the program's past and future in interviews, briefs, and blogs.
Through home visiting, child development specialists, speech therapists, and other professionals work with families and their children in their homes to assess children’s development and health, as well as bolster parenting skills. Consistent, correct use of evidence-based practices by practitioners such as home visitors can help improve children’s outcomes. AIR ...
As we look back over 2018, AIR's Professional Services Division reflects on the progress we’ve made in fulfilling our mission of conducting and applying the best behavioral and social science research, evaluation, and technical assistance towards improving people’s lives, with a special emphasis on the disadvantaged. ...
How can we better support young people as they learn the skills they need to succeed in school, work, and life? These resources focus on social and emotional development outside the classroom.
In this commentary, Pooja Reddy Nakamura, an AIR senior researcher explores the question of when to introduce English to children in multilingual contexts. Rather than introducing it at the first opportunity, she suggests grouping classes by local language achievement skill—not just age—and introducing written English only after the local language ...
President Obama’s proposed federal budget would increase funding for many education initiatives, programs for homeless veterans and disabled workers, technology training for teachers, and other programs. What does research and evidence say about these programs' effectiveness and value?
The pandemic affected nearly all sectors of society, including some of the areas where AIR focuses its work—education, workforce development, and health. On the two-year anniversary of this historic moment, we asked our experts to reflect on the pandemic’s unexpected consequences, adaptations that may outlast the pandemic itself, and any ...
Supporting the mission to provide targeted support for English Learmers, the Midwest Comprehensive Center worked with the Minnesota Department of Education on a cultural competency project. The project had two primary goals: 1) Conduct a listening tour of agency staff to inform recommendations on developing cultural competency within MDE so ...