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Elaine Lin Wang

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Associate Policy Researcher
Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in learning sciences and policy, University of Pittsburgh; M.A. in curriculum, teaching, and learning, University of Toronto; B.Ed. in Secondary English and French Education, University of British Columbia; B.A. in English and French, University of British Columbia

Overview

Elaine Wang is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on the measurement of the quality of literacy instruction and learning, and teachers' and principals’ sensemaking of policy initiatives and how that influences their practice. She specializes in using qualitative and case study methods to examine relationships between instruction and student learning outcomes, and to understand factors that facilitate or pose challenges for policy or program implementation. 

Wang is also interested in the impact of school climate on students' academic and socioemotional development. She received her Ph.D. in the learning sciences and policy program (with a minor in research methodology) from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to pursuing her graduate studies, Wang taught high school English for nine years. 

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Evaluation of the University Principal Preparation Initiative
  • Evaluation of National Institute for School Leadership (NISL)'s Advanced Certification System for Highly Effective Principals
  • Implementation and Evaluation of Tools for Life Social-Emotional Learning Program in Jackson Public School District in Mississippi
  • Evaluation of Opportunity by Design initiative
  • Development of Quality Criteria and Principles for Student Centered Learning

Selected Publications

Elaine Wang, Lindsay Clare Matsumura, & Richard Correnti, "Student Writing Accepted as High-Quality Responses to Analytic Text-Based Writing Tasks," Elementary School Journal, 2018 (forthcoming)

Julia H. Kaufman, Elaine Wang, Laura Hamilton, Lindsey Thompson, & Gerald Hunter, U.S. Teachers' Support of their State Standards and Assessments: Findings from the American Teacher Panel, RAND Corporation (RR-2136), 2017

Trey Miller, Holly Kosiewicz, Elaine Lin Wang, Elizabeth VP Marwah, Scott Delhommer, & Lindsay Daugherty, Dual credit education in Texas: interim report, RAND Corporation (RR-2043-CFAT), 2017

Julia H. Kaufman, John Davis, Elaine Wang, Lindsey Thompson, Joseph Pane, Katherine Pfrommer, & Mark Harris, Use of open-educational resources in an era of common standards, RAND Corporation (RR-1905-BMGF), 2017

Elaine Wang, Lindsay Clare Matsumura, Donna DePrima-Bickel, Richard Correnti, Dena Zook-Howell, Deanna Prine, & Marguerita Walsh, "Web-based professional development to improve text discussions.," European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning (EAPRIL) 2015 Conference Proceedings, 2016

Lindsay Clare Matsumura, Richard Correnti, & Elaine Wang, "Classroom writing tasks and students’ analytic text-based writing skills," Reading Research Quarterly, 50(4), 2015

Lindsay Clare Matsumura & Elaine Wang, "Principals’ sensemaking of coaching for ambitious reading instruction in a high-stakes accountability policy environment," Education Policy Analysis Archives, 22, 2014

Richard Correnti, Lindsay Clare Matsumura, Laura S. Hamilton, & Elaine Wang, "Assessing students' skills at writing in response to texts," Elementary School Journal, 114(2), 2013

Languages

French; Mandarin

Publications