Effective school leaders may be the linchpin of a successful school system. Research has identified school leadership quality as second only to teacher quality in its influence on student achievement.
Documenting and improving early childhood program quality is a national priority, leading to a rapid expansion of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRISs). QRISs document and improve the quality of early childhood education programs and provide clear information to families about their childcare choices. Findings from this study suggest that ...
This summary is one of ten reports from a series of public listening sessions held by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) and supported and facilitated by AIR.
Recent research suggests that intensive, content-focused professional development improves teachers’ knowledge and some aspects of their practice, but not student achievement. Kirk Walters sat down with Mike Garet, who led the research, and three other experts to get their reactions to these findings. ...
The initiatives to enhance adult learning program accountability and assessment systems of the following states are described in this paper: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West Virginia.
Educator performance evaluation systems are a potential tool for improving student achievement by increasing the effectiveness of the educator workforce. This report is based on a study on the implementation of teacher and principal performance measures highlighted by recent research, as well as the impact of providing feedback based on ...
This report, authored by AIR and funded by the HOPE Foundation, introduces the school reform model, describes the study methodology, presents findings for each of the three research questions explored, and discusses the implications for the intervention and additional research.
Since its inception, the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative has shown promise for reducing violent crime at the community level in Massachusetts. Most recently, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services contracted with AIR and WestEd to evaluate SSYI at the individual level of impact. ...
Teachers matter. Educators, policymakers and the general public alike agree that great teachers are vital to a thriving K-12 education system, yet the pathways to assembling a high quality teaching force remain elusive. This case study of Garden Grove Unified School District, winner of the 2004 Broad Prize for Urban ...
A significant number of educator compensation reform efforts are underway throughout the country. The purpose of this report is to assist the stakeholders in alternative compensation initiatives to better understand the ways in which they can structure performance incentives in the context of their intended outcomes, local culture, and available ...