In recent decades, most school systems have not prioritized civic learning in policy and practice. In this brief, we discuss the need for action in two inter-related areas to help address the current state of democracy through the promotion of K–12 civic learning: measurement and causal research.
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.
While states provided direct support to struggling schools in the past, ESSA places more responsibility on districts by requiring them to select evidence-based interventions—which can take the form of programs, policies, or practices—to help these schools improve.
Education scholars and researchers have argued that an arts integration approach—linking arts strategies and activities with curriculum and instruction in other subjects—can improve student learning in those subjects. This report examines the relevance of arts integration to the Every Student Succeeds Act. ...
This series of two webinars, co-hosted by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Midwest Comprehensive Center, provides participants with an understanding of the research concepts embedded in the minimum requirements for CSI, TSI, and ATSI schools to help schools select evidence-based practices for their improvement plans. ...
In 2019, a grant gave Ohio the opportunity to improve literacy outcomes for children from birth through grade 12 and required educators to use relevant evidence-based practices. AIR experts provided education leaders with trainings on ESSA and evidence-based practices and produced several resources, such as a crosswalk aligning the ESSA ...
The Center for ELLs at AIR works with states, districts, and schools to collect information about current policies and practices for ELLs, evaluate those policies and practices, and formulate plans of action to make improvements in the education of ELLs.
As ESEA turns 50 this month, the time is ripe to rethink whether the “E” in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the best place to start. In this blog post, Susan Muenchow discusses the robust research that reveals students are most successful when they get a good jumpstart ...
A December 2015 AIR study finds that Transitional Kindergarten, the first year of a two-year kindergarten program for young five-year-olds in California, appears to improve children’s school readiness in critical areas of academic learning and development. Researchers Karen Manship and Heather Quick explain how and suggest next steps. ...
School improvement policy for the past few decades has been characterized by mandated lists of activities designed to stimulate a dramatic turnaround in student achievement. In the long run, this policy approach did not engender the necessary school-level changes. This brief demonstrates why new policies must aim to get the ...