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

Teachers standing by chalkboard talking
3 Dec 2019
In the Field

FAQs: Developing Clearinghouses to Identify and Implement Evidence-Based Educational Practices

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 evidence tiers with the ratings systems of evidence-based clearinghouses.
Image of teachers working together
21 Nov 2019
In the Field

Nine Conditions That Helped Massachusetts Turn Around Its Schools

What should states and districts working on school improvement keep in mind about successful turnaround efforts? AIR experts have identified nine key conditions that led to successful turnaround in Massachusetts that could be useful to education leaders in other states.
14 Nov 2019
Report

Making SEL Assessment Work: Ten Practitioner Beliefs

In the social and emotional learning field, multiple assessment issues—from the complexity, validity, and reliability of measures, to the use and interpretation of results—baffle even the most experienced researchers. AIR and CASEL convened 28 practice leaders from across the country to understand how they are implementing, assessing, and refining their SEL practices.
13 Nov 2019
Report

Career and Technical Education in High School and Postsecondary Pathways in Washington State

This paper describes the postsecondary transitions of students taking CTE courses in high school using administrative data on one cohort of high school graduates in Washington State.
Image of kindergarten teacher and student
13 Nov 2019
Video

REL Midwest Videos and Documentaries

The Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest (REL Midwest), one of ten regional educational laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, serves the educational needs of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Explore these vidoes and documentaries to learn more about the topics we cover.
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