REL Mid-Atlantic is offering an open question line for education-related research questions. Are you interested in learning what the latest research says about an issue in your district? Need help using data to inform policy decisions or identifying evidence-based curricula or interventions? REL Mid-Atlantic can help at no cost to your school or district. Ask Read more about REL Question Line[…]
The Center for American Progress and the Council of Chief State School Officers are out with a new report looking at next-generation accountability concepts that states have implemented in lieu of zero congressional action on No Child Left Behind. Generally, the accountability reforms fall into 5 categories across the states: Measuring progress toward college and Read more about Next Generation Accountability Concepts[…]
Two new guides – one for researchers and one for education leaders – show how “opportunistic experiments” can build evidence by incorporating rigorous research studies into the normal course of action. This approach to conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) takes advantage of planned interventions or policy actions, all with minimal cost and disruption. The guide Read more about New from NCEE: Guides for making the most of opportunities to learn what works[…]
A new report from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) looks at the emerging policy focus of principal accountability. In 2011, NAESP and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) created a joint Principal Evaluation Committee to develop a framework for principal evaluation for use as a guide to improving professional practice. Read more about Rethinking Principal Evaluation[…]
Few efforts are as pressing this school year as those of identifying issues and creating new approaches to improve educator quality. In support of these imperatives, (AIR) has released new resources to ensure that leaders have the capabilities and tools needed to successfully improve teaching and learning. The online destinations for these new resources can Read more about AIR Releases New Tools and Assessments to Turn Around Educator Quality[…]
Sara Mead of Bellwether Education recently wrote in an Education Week blog about her investigation into teacher evaluation legislation in 21 states that have passed laws in the last three years requiring teacher evaluations based in part on student achievement. Bellwether’s study finds that 12 states’ laws link tenure to teacher effectiveness, 16 explicitly give Read more about The Missing Piece in Teacher Evaluation Laws: Empowering Principals[…]
The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality (TQ Center) is offering a free webinar to discuss teacher preparation improvement and accountability: Teacher Preparation Program Evaluation for Accountability and Improvement Thursday, September 27, 2012 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time During the past decade, teachers have been increasingly held accountable for the outcomes of their Read more about Holding Teacher Preparation Programs Accountable[…]
What makes for an effective principal, and how can effectiveness be measured? Thirty states have recently passed legislation to improve principal evaluation systems and are now grappling with these questions. New legislation recognizes that leadership is the second most influential factor in student achievement, after classroom teaching, but there is a lack of agreement about Read more about Proven Strategies for Designing Principal Evaluations[…]
Districts and states planning to apply for Teacher Incentive Fund Round 4 (TIF4) funding need to take steps to engage teachers and administrators, their Boards of Education, and the public in planning for applications. The TIF 4 draft regulations place emphasis on the core elements of both performance- based compensation and human capital management systems. Read more about US Department of Education Releases Draft TIF Regulations[…]
On March 27, Education Sector held a panel discussion to discuss the challenges facing states as we head towards 2014. Between now and 2014, states will be facing the challenges of new Common Core standards, new assessments, new accountability systems, new teacher evaluations, new data systems, and for some states, implementing Race to the Top. Read more about Getting to 2014: The Choices and Challenges Ahead[…]
Last week, a joint letter from the chancellors of The California State University, the University System of Maryland, and the State University of New York was delivered to Brian Kelly, Editor of U.S. News and World Report. The letter was among many that have been submitted by colleges and universities in protest over a proposed Read more about Controversy: Teacher Preparation Program Ranking[…]