Topic: School Reform

A great number of REA projects can be classified under school reform—whether they focus on evaluations of classroom interventions, policy studies, or studies of distance learning or professional development for teachers. The topic of School Reform includes projects in three sub-categories: assessment, technology reform, and instructional materials and projects.

A Computer for Every Teacher A Computer for Every Teacher was a project of the Indiana Department of Education to provide each teacher and administrator in four schools with a computer and printer for their personal, professional use. more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Professional Development, Technology and Education

Anytime Anywhere Learning A three-year effort (1996-1999), funded by Microsoft and Toshiba, to study the introduction of ubiquitous laptop computing to U.S. public and independent schools. more» Client: Microsoft Corporation, Toshiba America Funding Agency: Microsoft Corporation, Toshiba America Topic: School Reform, Learning with Laptops

Boston-Harvard Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) The Boston-Harvard Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) was a five-year program designed to build the leadership capacity of educators in the Boston Public Schools in order to enhance overall academic achievement for students. Begun in 1997, the LDI was a partnership of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Boston Public Schools, with funding and support from FleetBoston Financial Foundation and Harvard University. more» Client: Harvard Graduate School of Education Funding Agency: FleetBoston Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

Brokers of Expertise In partnership with WestEd and AIR, REA contributed to a statewide assessment of the need for professional development training and resources among California educators for the California Department of Education (CDE). REA led the development of a statewide survey of California educators and conducted focus groups with educators across the state in order to get both a broad, as well as in-depth, picture of the needs of California educators. more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: Cal State Sacramento Topic: School Reform, Web Sites, Technology and Education

Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP) Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project (CUIP) was a partnership between the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago that brought Internet connectivity to 29 public schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods around the university and provided technology support to help teachers integrate the Internet into classroom instruction. more» Client: University of Chicago Funding Agency: Joyce Foundation Topic: School Reform, Community Outreach, Technology and Education

Indiana New Tech Highs In collaboration with the Center in Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) and Center for Urban and Multicultural Education (CUME), REA conducted a series of interrelated studies in three first-year New Tech High Schools: a study of stakeholder perceptions, a pilot survey of students' technology use and post-secondary aspirations, analyses of students' performance on statewide standardized achievement measures and on measures built into the New Tech learning management system, and analyses of school-related behaviors such as attendance and suspensions. more» Client: TechPOINT Funding Agency: TechPOINT Topic: School Reform, Assessment, Technology and Education

IndianaNEXT IndianaNEXT provided customized professional development for some 1200 public and private school administrators, helping them use technology to support school improvement, increase student learning, and meet state and federal demands for accountability. From 2000 to 2003, Rockman collected formative data to help program leaders refine professional development offerings and better serve principals and superintendents from diverse schools and districts. more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

Learning Without Borders The Learning Without Borders (LWB) program was implemented in three schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD). All fourth-grade classrooms in these schools received the LWB arts curriculum and served as the treatment group. . more» Client: East Bay Center for Performing Arts (EBCPA) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Topic: School Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning

Napa New Technology High School Alumni Study Through an approach to learning and a professional environment modeled on successful business practices and technology-based skills, the New Technology High School (NTHS) model was designed to better prepare youth for work and continued education. more» Client: New Technology Foundation Funding Agency: New Technology Foundation Topic: School Reform, School Services

National History Day Program Study In 2009, the National History Day (NHD) organization contracted with Rockman et al to conduct a study of the NHD program, which attracts more than half a million students annually. more» Client: National History Day Funding Agency: National History Day Topic: School Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum

Quality Teaching for English Language Learners (QTEL) The effectiveness of the professional development model was evaluated as it was implemented in New York City Schools. The study used an experimental design with teachers from five regions in the city randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. more» Client: WestEd Funding Agency: New York Department of Education (NYCDOE) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

Research and Evaluation Services REA provides research and evaluation services to Education Station, a private educational service provider, these services include the development of research validation documents for its programs, establishing the reliability and validity of its assessment instrument, quasi-experimental research studies of its services, and customer satisfaction surveys. more» Client: Education Station Funding Agency: Education Station Topic: School Reform, Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, School Services

School Improvement Media Rockman et al worked with the George Lucas Education Foundation and Vulcan Productions to conduct an evaluation of school improvement media resources for various educational audiences. more» Client: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Funding Agency: George Lucas Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions Topic: School Reform

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) I: Evalulation of Online School Improvement Implementation and Monitoring Tool (SIIMT) The tool was developed for use in on-site technical assistance efforts. It encourages school teams to use their plans to guide well-articulated improvement strategies. WestEd developed the tool on a database structure that permits the use of multiple faces to allow for customized uses by schools, districts, state departments, and private sector clients. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1: Developing an Effective School Plan (DESP) Rockman et al collaborated with WestEd to conduct a feasibility study of professional development around a comprehensive set of tools and activities for data-driven decision making. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1: Roadmap/Dashboard Rockman et al worked with The EdVenture Group on a contract from the U.S. Department of Education’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to conduct a feasibility study of a set of consulting services designed to help schools monitor and implement their school improvement plans more effectively and efficiently. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Technology and Education

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 2: Evaluation of School Forward Tracker For this phase 2 SBIR study, Rockman et al collaborated with WestEd, a nonprofit research, development, and service agency, to refine and research use of an online tool designed to support the monitoring and implementation of school-wide improvement plans. The tool was developed for use in conjunction with on-site technical assistance for schools in the process of developing and monitoring well-substantiated and coherent school improvement plans. more» Client: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Topic: School Reform, Technology and Education

Students as Agents of Change Rockman et al served as external evaluator for the Students as Agents of Change Challenge Grant program implemented in Gary, Indiana. Graduating fifth-grade students attended summer technology camps with teachers from local middle schools. Campers then became technology helpers when they entered middle school and worked collaboratively with their teachers and fellow students to create presentations for elementary school students that showcased work created through the use of technology. more» Client: School Corporation, City of Gary, IN Funding Agency: U.S. Government: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Professional Development

Study of the Availability and Effectiveness of Cultural Competency Training for California Teachers Rockman et al and WestEd were contracted by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing to conduct a study of cultural competency training provided to teachers and administrators in ten culturally diverse California school districts reflecting the demography and geography of California. more» Client: California Commission of Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Funding Agency: California Commission of Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Public/Educational Policy

TechKnowBuild The TechKnowBuild project is the U.S. Department of Education’s last Technology Innovation Challenge Grant, a partnership between the Crawfordsville Community Schools and Indianapolis Public Schools that has, since its inception, provided laptop computers and wireless Internet access to 2,500 middle school students and approximately 100 teachers. more» Client: Crawfordsville Community Schools Funding Agency: U.S. Department Of Education: Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Topic: School Reform, Tech Reform, Technology and Education, Learning with Laptops

Technology Roadmap At the request of a multi-campus independent school, REA explored how schools could best use the growing technology resources spread over the several campuses. We created a roadmap for the application of technology to support teaching, learning, and management. more» Client: Policy Analysis and System Evaluation (PASE) Funding Agency: Kamehameha Schools Topic: School Reform, Technology and Education, Public/Educational Policy

Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) Evaluation The New Visions for Public Schools-Hunter College Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) project is a partnership between New Visions, the Hunter College Schools of Education and Arts and Sciences, and the New York City Department of Education. Much like doctors, aspiring teachers serve as residents as part of their preparation. They are teachers of record for one class and considered members of a school’s teaching faculty, but also have the support of a trained mentor teacher. more» Client: New Visions for Public Schools and Hunter College Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED): Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Topic: School Reform, Professional Development, Public/Educational Policy