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.
Over the last decade, educators have become increasingly interested in continuous improvement (CI) as a strategy for reform. For this literature review, AIR set out to locate empirical studies that described the process of implementing CI, as well as studies that analyzed the conditions that foster or limit its use. ...
Research alliances are long-term partnerships among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners that draw the three groups into close, sustained relationships focused on a shared set of priorities. Members negotiate a research agenda, and a subset of policymakers and practitioners maintains advisory roles on projects staffed with researchers. ...
Turning around our nation’s low-performing schools became a national priority—and central focus of education policy at all levels—in 2001 with No Child Left Behind. Then Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants redoubled the nation’s emphasis on school turnaround, giving states more resources to advance improvement efforts within federal ...
Although DCPS has made measurable progress over the past five years in terms of the goals laid out in the former Chancellor’s strategic plan, gains have not been evenly distributed among all student groups or across all of DC’s eight wards. To summarize the extent to which DCPS met its ...
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has an ongoing commitment to improve support provided to all schools, with an emphasis on the lowest performing schools. This report summarizes findings from AIR’s qualitative analyses of turnaround practices that appear challenging for low-performing high schools, as well as promising practices ...
Despite concerted efforts by various governments and international agencies, low agricultural productivity remains a persistent challenge in many developing countries. Using findings from three case studies of value chain assessments conducted by AIR in Uganda, Mozambique, and Georgia, AIR provided evidence-based policy recommendations to improve programming in value chains in ...
The California Collaborative on District Reform was designed to improve educational opportunities for all students, with particular emphasis on those who have been historically underserved. Joel Knudson, a senior researcher at AIR and the Collaborative’s deputy project director, answered questions about the Collaborative and its work. ...
To stay current on the most effective strategies for school improvement, Catherine Barbour keeps a close eye on new research. At AIR, researchers and technical assistance providers collaborate to put the most authoritative and timely information to practical use.
District leaders are increasingly recognizing the value of working with their peers in other districts to tackle their most pressing challenges. Without careful attention to the factors that help cross-district learning occur, however, education leaders looking to achieve systemwide change may fail to capitalize on the potential of working together ...