This collection of policy briefs was prepared for Getting from Facts to Policy: A California Education Policy Convening, hosted by EdSource in October 2007.
Research, Policy, and Practice Connections is series of conversations among AIR experts on emerging topics related to improving teacher and school leader effectiveness. Each video interview explores three questions: Why is this topic relevant right now? What are the key challenges and innovations? What is AIR learning through research and ...
What do teachers themselves think of policies that address identifying and retaining effective teachers? What conclusions should reformers draw from teachers’ perceptions? This report suggests that what teachers think are good indicators of effectiveness—and what they think will make them more effective—are not always aligned with what policymakers or researchers ...
AIR provides background on value-added modeling, AIR’s value-added work, and why individual teacher value-added scores should not be publicly released.
Student learning objectives (SLOs) have become the preferred measure of student growth in many new systems of teacher evaluation and compensation. This SLO practice brief aims to assist states and districts in the implementation of SLOs by providing practical steps for building a sustainable system of developing and measuring student ...
Both the formal and informal education communities are increasingly focused on fostering opportunities for social and emotional learning (SEL) and the link between SEL and youth outcomes. This self-reflection tool is designed to help afterschool program staff reflect upon their own social and emotional competencies and their ability to support ...
Renewing the conversation on teachers’ role in educational reform, the U.S. Department of Education’s new Excellent Educators for All Initiative requires states to consult with teachers when creating new plans to ensure students have equitable access to educators. The Department also recently launched a website to encourage educators to share ...
Evaluation systems appear to be one of the most rapidly changing policy issues affecting teachers in recent years. This paper provides a brief synopsis of the process of dissecting the evaluation system.
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.
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 ...