Research and Best Practices
The largest in-depth study of school leadership to date, this report gathers and analyzes quantitative data confirming that education leadership has a strong impact on student achievement, as measured by student test scores. The study shows that leadership makes its mark largely by strengthening a school’s “professional community” – an environment where teachers work together to improve classroom instruction. It also finds that rapid turnover of principals reduces student achievement. In addition, the study shows that although the.....
Assessment Resources
Uncharted Territory: Using Tiered Intervention to Improve High School Performance
A new report from the High School Tiered Interventions Initiative (HSTII), a collaboration among the National High School Center, the Center on Instruction, and the National Center on Response to Intervention, summarizes what HSTII has learned thus far about effective implementation of RTI in high schools.
Tiered Interventions in High Schools: Using Preliminary ‘Lessons Learned’ to Guide Ongoing Discussion, provides a brief description of the RTI framework and the essential components of RTI, illustrates how the essential components of.....
IDEA Partnership Collection (K-12 Special Education resource)
A Partnership Collection, a website developed by the IDEA Partnership, is the result of the collaborative work of 65 partner organization representatives, five technical assistance providers, and a number of state and local organizations and agencies representing a range of roles at all levels of the education system and geographic locations across the country. The Collection provides access to a comprehensive database of materials and resources to assist in the understanding of RTI processes and best practices for its implementation on all.....
Use of Education Data at the Local Level: From Accountability to Instructional Improvement
The U.S. Department of Education recently published the results of a study examining the characteristics of data systems and their use at the classroom level. More specifically, it looked at what types of student data systems were available to school staff, how school staff were using the systems and other forms of student data, teachers' understanding of data displays and data interpretation issues, and the supports and challenges for school-level use of student data in planning and implementing instruction.
SIOP Model: Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
SIOP is a research-based observation instrument that has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of sheltered instruction (Guarino, Echevarria, Short, Schick, Forbes, & Rueda, 2001). The SIOP is also used as a model for lesson planning and implementation of high quality sheltered instruction. All features of the SIOP model are aligned with current research on instruction for ELs.
In a study examining the effects of the SIOP Model on student achievement, students whose teachers implemented the SIOP model to a high degree in middle.....
RTI – an IRIS Center resource that includes four modules
RTI (includes Early Intervening) – an IRIS Center resource that includes four modules: An Overview, Assessment, Reading Instruction and Putting it All Together. It is recommended that you start with Part 1 and go through modules in order. You can click on the following link: http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources.html then click on RTI, then Modules to access each module and to see a description of each module or you can click on the links below to access each part individually.
Part 1:.....
Moving Research into Classrooms: Hillsboro, Oregon School District’s Plan for Multi-tiered Literacy Instruction K-12
This is a Power Pt. of the Hillsboro, Oregon S.D.'s K-12 Plan for Literacy Instruction. Some educators may find it a useful resource as they develop their own K-12 Literacy Plans.
Enhancing Academic Literacy of ELLs in Science and Social Studies Classrooms
This is a presentation from the first of a series of 90-minute webinars designed to provide an opportunity to engage with national experts in an interactive learning process centered on adolescent literacy best practices used in traditional content-area classrooms in grades 4-12. It includes an overview of two experimental studies aimed at boosting the academic achievement of older English learners.
Developing a Freshman Watch List to Lower Dropout Rates
Listen to how the Department of Graduation Pathways supports schools in identifying students who fall off track to graduation and in planning interventions. Schools receive a Freshman Watch List to identify incoming freshmen who need interventions to be on track for graduation at the end of the freshman year. The department used this sample material, Graduation Pathways: Using Freshman Year Indicators, to help school staff understand the freshman year indicators. (4:36 min)
Implementing Response to Intervention: Practices and Perspectives from Five Schools
Frequently Asked Questions [K-8] Published by COI
The Center on Instruction is working to identify practices that may be effective in implementing Response to Intervention (RTI) at the school, district, and state levels. This document describes the school-level implementation of RTI at five schools across the country, with particular focus on instruction and the implementation of effective practices. A "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) format is used, with answers based on the collective experience of the five schools (three elementary, one.....
Sustaining Reading First
The resources in this link provide a conceptual framework on sustainability, tools for assessing readiness to sustain, and briefs on specific topics related to sustaining evidence based reading instruction.
Making Mathematics Accessible to English Learners
This practical book helps upper elementary, middle, and high school mathematics teachers effectively reach English learners in their classrooms. Designed for teachers who have had limited preparation for teaching mathematics to English learners, the guide offers an integrated approach to teaching mathematics content and English language skills, including guidance on best instructional practices from the field, powerful and concrete strategies for teaching mathematics content along with academic language, and sample lesson scenarios that can be.....
AIMSweb
AIMSweb is a benchmark and progress monitoring system based on direct, frequent and continuous student assessment. The results are reported to students, parents, teachers and administrators via a web-based data management and reporting system to determine response to intervention.
RTI - Response to Intervention
Response to intervention (RTI) integrates assessment and intervention within a multi-level prevention system to maximize student achievement and to reduce behavior problems. With RTI, schools identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes, monitor student progress, provide evidence-based interventions and adjust the intensity and nature of those interventions depending on a student’s responsiveness, and identify students with learning disabilities or other disabilities.
Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center
In 2005, the U.S. Department of Education selected WestEd, in partnership with National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST), to operate the Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center (AACC). The AACC implements, evaluates, and improves assessment and accountability systems so that states and districts can reach the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) goal of academic proficiency for all students.
Alaska Formative Assessment Resources (EED)
Colorin Colorado - A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners
Colorín Colorado is a free web-based service that provides information, activities and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs).
Research note:
The information on Colorín Colorado is based on a combination of direct research, expert opinion, and best practices. The field of teaching English language learners is highly complex and quickly evolving. While research is underway, the need for accessible information and practical classroom strategies continues to grow. As research becomes more definitive, the.....
