What does education research tell us about effective strategies for raising student achievement? How can school districts take lessons learned from research and apply them to practice? See below for the latest findings on current topics. Our "findings from research" packets include:

• Key lessons from research: Key findings from research at a glance.
• Research reviews: Syntheses of research on timely education topics.
• Q & As: Research-based answers to frequently asked questions.
• Lists of resources: Organizations that provide services and more information related to the research topics.

Simply giving students the basics of reading isn't enough. Continued reading instruction in fourth grade and beyond helps turn ordinary readers into critical ones capable of understanding advanced texts.

• Still learning: Reading beyond grade three. The full research paper.
• At-a-glance. A one page synopsis of the research.
• Building fluency
• Enhancing comprehension
• Expanding vocabulary
• Motivation and other components
• Bibliography

Who should set the standards for what our children learn? States? The federal government? As the reauthorization of ESEA approaches these questions have been on the minds of many. Find out what the principal arguments are for and against both options.

• The entire discussion.

A consensus has emerged among researchers that five essential components are necessary to develop skillful readers. What do these components and other research on reading in the early years mean for school leaders, policymakers, and parents.

• From beginner to stellar: Five tips on developing skillful readers. The full report on beginning readers.
•  NAEP achievement levels: Reading 1–3
• Recent research on early reading
• Fluency: Early readers
• Phonics
• Phonemic awareness
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension

Having good classroom teachers is the foundation of a good school. But where do you find them, and how can you retain the newest ones? Learn the answer to these questions and more as we explore how school boards can "acquire the number and type of people necessary for the present and future" (Rebore 2001) of your school or district. This research packet contains:

• Teacher Recruitment: Current Strategies and Their Effectiveness: The full report on finding and retaining good teachers. (PDF)
• Wanted: Good teachers: A summary of the full report.
• Basic facts: A handout of the facts about teacher recruitment and retention.

Is recess becoming a thing of the past? Surveys show it's alive and well, but that the time alloted may be shrinking in some schools. And there is a recess gap: High minority, high poverty, and urban elementary schools tend to schedule less recess than others. While districts are charged with difficult financial and academic choices, recess should not be on the chopping block.

Time out: Is recess in danger? Analysis of several data sources on the elimination or reduction of recess.

Learning English is a daunting task for English language learners, and teaching it is equally as daunting. But research does give us some clues on how to help this cohort of students. We approach this topic in several ways:

• Key Lessons: ELL research at a glance.
• Preparing English language learners (ELL) for academic success: Summary of research about English language learners.
• What NCLB says about ELL students: How NCLB defines and assesses English language learners.
• What research says about testing accommodations for ELLs:  Are accommodations effective?
• Research review: What research says about preparing English Language Learners for Academic Success: The full report by researchers at Edvantia (PDF).
• Archived Chat: Preparing English language learners (ELL) for academic success
  
  

For more than 20 years of research, class size continues to be at the forefront of the educational and political agenda for schools, school districts, and school boards. Here is what research tells us about class size and student achievement.

• Key lessons from research. Key findings from research on class size, at a glance.
• Lecciones Claves: Tamaño de la Clase y alcance del estudiante
• Research review. A synthesis of research on class size.
• Organizations with information on class size. 

Shepherding students successfully to high school graduation means keeping them in school in the first place. What strategies work?

• Key lessons about preventing dropouts. An at-a-glance guide to research on dropout identification, intervention, prevention, and recovery.
• Research review: Keeping kids in school. What research has to tell us about preventing dropoputs.
• Dropouts: Myths v. Realities. Many widespread ideas about dropouts miss the mark.

It is challenging work to turn around a low performing school in an impoverished community. What common qualities, attributes, and conditions characterize high performing, high-poverty schools?

• Key lessons from research. Key lessons from rsearch on high-performing, high-poverty schools, at a glance.
• Research review. A synthesis of research on high-peforming, high-poverty schools.
• Q & A. Research-based answers to frequently asked questions about high-performing, high-poverty schools..
• Organizations with information on high-performing, high-poverty schools

Do high-stakes tests help or hinder student learning? Much has been written about the effects of high-stakes tests on instruction, but little is based on hard evidence. These pages highlight what we do know about high-stakes testing and instruction.

• Key lesson from research. Key findings from research on high-stakes testing and instruction, at a glance.
• Research review. A synthesis of research on high stakes testing and instruction.
• Q & A. Research-based answer to frequently asked questions about high-stakes testing. 
• Organizations with information about high-stakes testing

Does homework help or hinder student learning—and which students, under what conditions, does it help or hinder?

• Key lessons from research. Key findings from research on the benefits of homework, at a glance.
• Lecciones claves: Lo que dice la investgación acerca del valor de tareas en casa
• Research review.  A synthesis of validated research on homework's effect on student achievement.
• Research Q & A.  Research-based answers to frequently asked questions about homework.
• Archived Chat: Homework—What is it good for? March 1, 2007.

The following lessons summarize the current research on different approaches to organizing school time and schedules, beginning with the obvious question: Does more time make a difference in learning?

• Key lessons learned from research. Key findings from research on school schedules, instruction, and student learning, at a glance.
• Research review. A synthesis of research on school schedules, instruction, and student learning.
• Q&A. Research-based answers to frequently asked questions about time, instruction, and student learning.

What the data say about math and science performance plus what research says about raising overall math and science achievement.

Key lessons from research. Key findings from research about math and science instruction and achievement, at a glance.

• Advancing Quality Pre-K in All States (Powerpoint) (PDF) Overview of The Pew Charitable Trusts initiative to encourage high-quality early learning opportunities for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Presentation by Sara Watson, Pew Charitable Trusts.
• Exploring the School Connection (PDF). How does pre-K relate to school improvement? What child outcomes should we expect? Presentation by Jana Martella, executive director, National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education.
• Pre-K Momentum (PDF) Progress toward Pre-K Now's vision of all children entering kindergarten prepared to succeed. Presentation by Libby Doggett, executive director, Pre-K Now. 
• State Pre-K Programs: What Do We Know? (Powerpoint) (PDF) What are the short- and long-term benefits of pre-K? What does the research say about pre-K quality? Presentation by Eileen O'Brien and Chuck Dervarics, education researchers and writers.
• Expanding Voluntary Preschool Programs: The Federal Role (PDF). An overview of federal policy relevant to early childhood education by Chrisanne L. Gayl, director of federal programs for the National School Boards Association.
• Pre-kindergarten resources: School boards and pre-k; organizations; and publications, articles and other resources. A comprehensive list of resources for those interested in exploring issues around pre-kindergarten.

Teacher quality stands out in the research for its potential to close the persistent gap in academic achievement between students from poor, non-white, and/or urban backgrounds and their better-off peers.

• Key lessons from research. Key findings from research about teacher quality, at a glance.
• Lecciones Claves: La calidad de los maestros y el logro del estudiante.
• Research review. A synthesis of research about teacher quality.
• Q & A. Research-based answers to frequently asked questions about teacher quality.