Education

School Improvement and Effectiveness

AIR’s efforts in the area of school improvement and effectiveness encompass a broad range of issues, including comprehensive school reform, high school improvement, turnaround schools, and standards-based reform, as well as policies and practices that influence teacher effectiveness. We conduct evaluations and critical reviews of the research, identify promising and proven practices, and provide tools and technical assistance to help implement them.

We work at the state and district levels, developing strategies to cultivate capable leaders, promote effective teaching, engage students, and foster student achievement through strong curriculum and instruction and a positive school climate.

Our state consulting services provide education agencies and policymakers with the tools they need to improve the performance of all their schools and districts. At the district level, we collaborate with individual districts and schools to develop lasting customized solutions that will set a positive course for change. In all cases, our technical assistance and recommendations are research-based and address widespread issues.

View Recent Content | View Areas of Expertise

  • Tool: Special Education Start-Up and Implementation Tools for Charter School Leaders and Special Education Managers

    This user-friendly guidebook and toolkit was developed by special education experts to support charter school leaders and special education managers as they build special education programs to serve students with disabilities.

  • Report: Avoid Simple Solutions and Quick Fixes

    This paper examines efforts from 2008 to 2012 by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) – with the assistance of the American Institutes for Research – to improve safety, order, and the conditions for learning in its schools.

  • Project: National Charter School Resource Center

    The National Charter School Resource Center at AIR, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to aid development of high-quality charter schools. The center organizes conferences, publishes a monthly newsletter, leads an ongoing series of webinars, and supports a variety of technical assistance focused on critical issues facing the charter school community.

View All School Improvement and Effectiveness Projects

View All School Improvement and Effectiveness Reports & Products