Education

Increasing the effectiveness of education

AIR is committed to increasing the effectiveness of education at all levels through rigorous research and evaluation, training, and technical assistance. Our work spans the learning lifespan—from pre-K to postsecondary education, career readiness, and adult education—and focuses on a wide range of topics, including STEM, social and emotional learning, and state and federal education policies.

Our rigorous, state-of-the-art research and evaluation work provides important evidence for education policymakers and practitioners to use when answering crucial questions about program implementation, challenges, and solutions. Through our policy, practice, and systems change work, our experts help clients address educational issues and challenges at the local, state, national, and international levels by applying evidence-based practices in educational and community settings.

Latest Work

Image of Hispanic family reading together at home
3 Dec 2020
In the Field

Strategies for Supporting Young Students’ Home-Language Development During COVID-19—and Beyond

With COVID-19 still affecting in-person education across the country, early childhood educators have had to find new ways to give students, especially those who are dual-language learners, early, rich linguistic experiences. AIR Senior Researcher Rebecca Bergey describes a number of ways early childhood educators can help families foster their children’s home language development, while also preparing them to succeed when they’re back in the classroom.
23 Nov 2020
Report

College Enrollment and Completion among Texas High School Graduates with a Disability

The limited available research suggests that students with a disability are less likely to enroll in and complete college than students without a disability; however, this research draws primarily on surveys with voluntary responses and often with a small sample size. This study offers new evidence to inform policies and research about how to serve students with a disability in postsecondary education.
18 Nov 2020
Q & A

A Quick Word with Jessica Heppen on Using Texting to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

In a study for the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, AIR evaluated the effects of an adaptive text messaging intervention on chronic absenteeism in schools. Jessica Heppen, a senior vice president at AIR, tells us more about the study, including what her team learned about the effectiveness of the intervention and implications for educators, parents, and students.
17 Nov 2020
Brief

Why They Stay: Teach For America Alumni in Eastern North Carolina Rural Schools

Teach for America’s theory of change centers on leadership and partnerships with broad and diverse coalitions to change systems that perpetuate educational inequity. This study was commissioned to gather alumni perspectives about their work and impact in a small, purposeful sample of rural communities in Eastern North Carolina.
5 Nov 2020
Spotlight

Spotlight on Native Nations

Contributing and working alongside Native Nations, AIR has a deep commitment to engaging communities, fostering shared vision and values, building capacity, and developing strategic alliances to achieve sustainable systems change in Indian Country.
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