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. These definitional studies included typologies of implementation strategies… 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. Rockman et al, an independent research firm conducted an evaluation of Years 3, 4, and 5 of the LDI program. 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. REA led the development of a statewide survey of California educators and conducted focus groups with educators across the state in order to get 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 public schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods around the university and provided technology support for teachers... 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 explored changes in three Indiana New Tech High Schools during their first year's implementation, looking at stakeholder perceptions and students' technology use and academic performance. more» Client: TechPOINT Funding Agency: TechPOINT Topic: School Reform, Assessment, Technology and Education

IndianaNEXT IndianaNEXT provided leadership and customized technology training for some 1200 public and private school administrators, to help them integrate technology into school improvement, base decisions driven by accountability on reliable data, and enhance teaching and learning. more» Client: Indiana Department of Education Funding Agency: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Topic: School Reform, Professional Development

Learning Without Borders Artists delivered two 10-week performing arts units each year to all fourth graders in three West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) elementary schools. Teachers and artists attended workshops during the school year. 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 This study documented the impact of New Technology High School from the perspective of the first seven years of graduates. REA gathered feedback through paper or online surveys from NTHS graduates regarding their postsecondary education and/or career, 21st Century skills, knowledge and use of technology, and on what they valued most about their NTHS experience. more» Client: New Technology Foundation Funding Agency: New Technology Foundation Topic: School Reform, School Services

Quality Teaching for English Language Learners (QTEL) Teaching English Language Learners is a challenge for which many teachers feel they are not prepared. Rockman et al evaluated a professional development program developed by WestEd: Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL). 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) Managing a comprehensive school improvement process can be difficult for schools. With a technology-based tool developed by WestEd, Rockman et al conducted a feasibility study of the tool, funded by the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. 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. Specifically, the study examined the optimum level of professional development needed for effective use of the Developing an Effective School Plan (DESP): An Activity-based Guide materials. 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... 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. 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… 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 5-year project designed to increase the number of well-prepared teachers entering the city’s classrooms, provide ongoing support during the critical early years of teaching, and ultimately raise teacher retention rates and student achievement. 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