Communication partners who efficiently use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are essential interaction partners for children learning to communicate using AAC. This systematic review examines studies targeting interventions designed to help communication partners support children with complex communication needs who use AAC.…

Although research suggests that service learning (SL) is being incorporated into the college classroom at an increasing rate, faculty often report that they are not convinced of its educational values. There is a lack of research on, and awareness about, what SL is, how it can be incorporated into the curriculum, and the outcomes on student…

This paper is about a design-based research project which evaluated the novel use of Lesson Study for assessment (LSfA) purposes. It starts by explaining the principles and design of LSfA procedures based on a Lesson Study model and dynamic assessment principles. It outlines the training and support provided to six Lesson Study teams in three…

Student learning measures have rapidly become common in teacher evaluation systems across the United States. Over half of the country's states have required, recommended, or identified "student learning objectives" (SLOs) as a measure of student growth for use in educator evaluation. Although SLO-type measures vary significantly in terms…

The first step in the Validity and Reliability Study summarizes the history and purpose of California's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), reviews findings from other QRIS evaluation studies, and describes the approach to validating the system in California. The majority of this report focuses on providing context for the California…

Across the country, state legislatures are turning to evidence-based policymaking to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively. One example is family support and coaching. In response to research confirming that the early years of childhood affect learning, behavior, and health for a lifetime, many states have invested in…

In July 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a major restructuring and modernization of U.S. workforce development programs originally created through the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which had been awaiting reauthorization for more than a decade. This brief provides an overview of…

The purpose of this study evaluates the work completed in the "Jefferson County Public Schools" (JCPS) project, "Making Time for What Matters Most", aiming to improve student achievement, narrow achievement gaps, strengthen students' college readiness skills, and increase the percentages of students who graduate and go on to…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Rhode Island's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Rhode Island will implement to address those challenges. In 2015, Rhode Island made significant progress toward its ambitious but achievable goals under the Race…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Vermont's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Vermont will implement to address those challenges. Vermont's remarkable progress in increasing participation in their tiered quality rating and improvement system,…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Oregon's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Oregon will implement to address those challenges. Oregon continues to make great strides in efforts to create a dynamic early learning system capable of anticipating…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Ohio's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Ohio will implement to address those challenges. Ohio saw many accomplishments throughout the reporting year for Early Learning Challenge Grant. The state legislature…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Washington's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Washington will implement to address those challenges. Year 4 of Washington's RTT-ELC was one of preparing to sustain the programs beyond RTT-ELC support and to…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes North Carolina's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies North Carolina will implement to address those challenges. North Carolina's RTT-ELC grant builds on North Carolina's history of recognizing that when each…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2015 describes Wisconsin's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Wisconsin will implement to address those challenges. During 2015, Wisconsin made significant progress implementing the programs and activities funded by the…