Reports and Studies

Education Sector released this interesting study of what's wrong with teacher evaluation and some innovations that work, including a candid look at Toledo's Peer Review system.

Education Evolving's paper urges an emphasis on School Reform, not system reform, to get us back to a focus on teaching and learning and away from models of schooling that are broken.

This CCCR report, “Fresh Ideas in Collective Bargaining: How New Agreements Help Kids,” comments on efforts in a some locals to modify contracts when language gets in the way of school improvement, creating professional growth systems that improve teaching and learning, and collaboration with parents and community groups.

A new study by Richard Rothstein makes a compelling case for broadening the scope of learning outcomes to include basic academic skills, but also critical thinking and problem solving, social skills and work ethic, citizenship and community responsiblity, lifelong physical health, lifelong emothional health, appreciation of the arts and literature, and preparation for skilled work. A look at these important skills not only redefines the achievement gap, but makes it clear that it is worse than we thought. February, 2008

A new study from the Economic Policy Institute documents, state by state, how teacher pay has fallen behind comparable professions. March, 2008

Julia Koppich's Four-year Evaluation Report of the Montgomery County Professional Growth System -- The report describes the value of integrating a common framework to define good teaching, job-embedded professional development, time for teacher learning, and a new teacher evaluation process including Peer Assistance and Review. November, 2004

Richard Rothstein headed a new study that draws lessons from the private sector leading to a healthy dose of caution in utilizing pay-for-performance in education. The study examines the potential for goal distortion, manipulation of sub-groups, and ways to game the system leading to untrustworthy statistics. While not rejecting pay for performance, this study is a must-read for educators seeking to make smart contributions to designing performance pay experiments. February, 2008

In a new report released April 23 from the Forum for Education and Democracy, Linda Darling-Hammond, George Wood, and their colleagues articulate the four pillars of an education program for the new administration in 2009. This watershed analysis of the crisis in public education policy may be the most significant and well-timed study since the 1983 Nation At Risk report.

Broader, Bolder ApproachBroader, Bolder ApproachIn June, 2008, a task force made up of an impressive list of more than 60 education, religious, political, and economic leaders published a hard hitting statement declaring that accountability for schools alone will not close the achievement gap. Rather, they called for A Broader, Bolder Approach to confront the social ills behind inequality in society.