Only one-third of state education officials say their departments have adequate capacity to help improve low-performing schools as required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), according to a survey of all 50 states by the American Institutes for Research (AIR).
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) have recently come to the forefront as a potential solution for measuring student growth, particularly for educators in subjects or grades not covered by a state standardized assessment. This paper discusses the steps for using SLOs as a measure of growth, identifies key considerations for successful ...
Gretchen Weber, former vice president for Policy, Practice, and Systems Change at AIR, has always championed teachers and advocated for meaningful teacher appreciation every day of the year. In this post, she discusses the challenges teachers are facing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Preparing students for the careers of tomorrow requires policymakers and leaders to engage cross-sector stakeholders (e.g., education, workforce, industry) to create policy environments that support college and career readiness and opportunity for all students. The following resources from the CCRS Center highlight strategies such as using geographic information systems to ...
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has released the first comprehensive review of existing quantitative research and qualitative feedback on federal K-12 education policies from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The report, "Looking Back to Look Forward: Quantitative and Qualitative Reviews of the ...
Research, Policy, and Practice Connections is series of conversations among AIR experts on emerging topics related to improving teacher and school leader effectiveness. Each video interview explores three questions: Why is this topic relevant right now? What are the key challenges and innovations? What is AIR learning through research and ...
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.
On November 7, 2016, AIR held a webinar to present highlights from its Study of Competency-Based Education (CBE), which examined the relationship between CBE practices and students' learning disposition, skills, and behaviors. The findings from this study reveal both the promise and limitations of CBE, showing that competency-based practices may ...
As California approaches a new system of academic standards, instruction, and assessment, it enters familiar territory. The use of multiple modes of assessment, tight alignment between assessments and expectations for student learning, and a focus on assessment for formative (as well as summative) purposes—all with an emphasis on students’ understanding ...
More than 20 policy experts from AIR will present at the 39th annual fall conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) taking place November 2-4 in Chicago, IL. This year’s theme, “Measurement Matters: Better Data for Better Decisions,” will focus on the importance of data and ...