In recent years, there has been an increased focus on turning around our nation’s low-performing schools, with substantial investments from the U.S. Department of Education into new and continuing awards under the federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) program. This brief focuses on the implementation of SIG by examining three interrelated ...
This brief uses the experience of eight California school districts—all members of the California Collaborative on District Reform—to suggest a more systemic approach to school turnaround.
Addressing persistent challenges in education, health care, and workforce requires evidence-backed approaches. For nearly 75 years, AIR has researched key issues and offered insight into the effectiveness of many strategies. Read our policy primer to explore our body of evidence covering issues such as COVID-19, early childhood, school climate, the ...
The National Center for Education Statistics annual report, Condition of Education, provides insight into how the U.S. education system has changed over time, the characteristics of students and teachers, and how the U.S. compares with other nations around the world. The 2022 edition of the report is the first to ...
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.
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. ...
A program that uses music, drama and dance to teach young students basic math concepts has demonstrated a significant positive effect equivalent to one to two months of learning, according to a new brief from AIR. The brief builds on the results of a randomized-controlled trial of Wolf Trap’s Early ...
As new technologies emerge, there is a growing perception that schools must utilize the latest technologies. This brief’s authors conducted evaluations of two large-scale technology initiatives and here share six lessons learned about common pitfalls during early stages of implementation.
In California, the demand for full-day, full-year early care and education programs has grown over time due to changing family needs. The purpose of this policy brief is specifically to address the financing issues involved in providing full-day, full-year preschool programs.
Yuan Zhang is a senior researcher in the Education Statistics program at AIR. She has over five years of experience providing expert support for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) longitudinal studies branch, including data analyses for various NCES reports, such as the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class ...