In this report AIR proposes an SES index for NAEP comprised of four existing NAEP variables. The results show that the NAEP SES index performs better than the current proxy—NSLP eligibility—in explaining performance variation and racial/ethnic achievement gaps in NAEP, as well as performing better than similar SES indices in ...
School improvement policy for the past few decades has been characterized by mandated lists of activities designed to stimulate a dramatic turnaround in student achievement. In the long run, this policy approach did not engender the necessary school-level changes. This brief demonstrates why new policies must aim to get the ...
In 2012–13, Newark Public Schools ratified a new teacher contract, the main goal of which is to implement a high-quality measure of teaching effectiveness and use it to support and manage teachers in ways that improve student outcomes. An evaluation of the contract and associated initiatives found that teachers and ...
States each develop their own standards to measure student assessment, so how do we compare the ability levels of students across the U.S.? This report, prepared by AIR for the Department of Education, maps state proficiency standards onto National Assessment of Education Progress scales to examine the variation among ...
In this commentary published in the Hill, Dan Goldhaber, AIR vice president and director of CALDER, and John C. White, Louisiana state superintendent of education, discuss the importance of formal mentoring for teachers during their career training.
Learning conditions that support a well-rounded education for all students are key ingredients within state’s ESSA plans. At times, creating a positive school climate and supporting student social and emotional development can be daunting challenges. In this webinar, AIR staff introduce the Leadership Competency Self-Reflection Tool and a coaching toolkit ...
AIR is working with RAND to evaluate the strategic human capital reform efforts of three school districts and a cluster of charter management organizations identified by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Among preliminary findings, the authors assert that the sustainability of the reforms studied relies on ...
Achieving Common Core-aligned mathematics instruction is not easy. AIR has teamed up with the Center for Education Policy at Harvard University to offer high-quality professional development to help teachers, schools, and districts improve their mathematics instruction.
National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality has compiled information about the availability, recruitment, and retention of teachers for at-risk schools and students in this inaugural biennial report.
A recent challenge to maintaining NAEP trends has arisen with the exploration of new testing methods and question types that reflect the growing use of technology in education. The purpose of this white paper is to provide a framework for considering device and interface features that may affect student performance ...