Robert Nathenson is a senior researcher at AIR. He has over 10 years of experience in the execution of rigorous econometric and behavioral science techniques to applied policy questions in the postsecondary education, pre-k-12 education, and health fields. Dr. Nathenson regularly conducts research using both experimental and quasi-experimental designs. His ...
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. This paper describes a feasibility study to determine whether measurement at the lower end of the student distribution, including measurement ...
According to a recent study by AIR, teachers and school leaders in the Newark Public Schools had positive views of its overhauled evaluation system, but only one in four teachers viewed a new compensation structure as “reasonable, fair and appropriate.” The report, the first to come out of a three-year ...
This brief draws on dialogue and investigation among the district practitioners, researchers, and policymakers participating in the California Collaborative on District Reform. It discusses ways in which districts can approach mathematics education given the current fiscal and political context in California. ...
AIR’s support of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Statistical Standards Program is technical, methodological, and statistical. AIR staff work to support the development of standards that ensure the quality of statistical surveys, analyses and products for NCES projects.
Over the last five decades, the United States has experienced the second largest wave of immigration in its history. This paper presents the first comprehensive look at the relative performance of immigrants; findings suggest early-arriving first generation immigrants perform better than do second generation immigrants, and second generation immigrants perform ...
The National Assessment Governing Board has recently turned increased attention towards the NAEP achievement levels and associated achievement level descriptors. This white paper offers two specific contributions for NAGB to consider as they move forward with plans to develop evidence to support removal of the trial status of the NAEP ...
Caitlin Dawkins, a principal technical assistance consultant at AIR, helped to develop the concept of Second Chance Month, with colleagues at Prison Fellowship. In this Q&A, Dawkins explains why successful reentry is hard to measure and dispels some misconceptions around reentry.
From 2012-2019, the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders (GTL Center) was a national content center under the federally funded Comprehensive Center Network, providing support to state education agencies and districts in all 50 states.
Jessica Heppen, a nationally recognized expert in education research, policy, and practice, is the president & CEO of AIR. Dr. Heppen been with AIR for 20 years and, in that time, has held several key roles during her tenure.