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Standards-Based Education Reform

The goal of standards-based reform is to establish objective metrics to assess student performance and teacher effectiveness, using standardized instructional materials and testing: Individual performance is measured against a set of common criteria rather than in relation to other students. RAND research considers the role of standards-based education reform, including the United States' No Child Left Behind law, in shaping global education policy.

Research Brief

Supporting Principals to Lead on the Selection and Use of Instructional Materials in Classrooms

This brief discusses findings from several RAND reports on principals' roles with respect to instructional materials. Recommendations describe how stakeholders can prepare and support principals to lead in selecting and using instructional materials.

Jul 19, 2021
Commentary

The Overlooked Support Teachers Are Missing: A Coherent Curriculum

America is still too far off from the classrooms envisioned by standards advocates, and it will take sustained effort from educational leaders to reach these ambitious goals. States and districts could prioritize efforts to support teachers to understand and implement standards both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mar 3, 2021
Report

How Instructional Materials Are Used and Supported in U.S. K–12 Classrooms: Findings from the 2019 American Instructional Resources Survey

New results from the RAND American Instructional Resources Survey, which was fielded to a national sample of public teachers and school leaders in spring 2019, shed light on how teachers use instructional materials in their classroom.

Aug 31, 2020
Journal Article

Day by Day: Investigating Variation in Elementary Mathematics Instruction That Supports the Common Core

This article investigates the extent to which students were being engaged in complex practices exemplified by Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and the Standards for Mathematical Practice on a daily basis, according to teachers' reports.

May 15, 2020
Report

Raising the Bar for Teacher Preparation: Early Signals on How Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies Are Working Across the State

This report, part of a four-part series on the implementation and outcomes of Louisiana's education initiatives, focuses on the state's strategies for K-12 teacher preparation.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Raising the Bar for K–12 Academics: Early Signals on How Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies Are Working for Schools, Teachers, and Students

This report, part of a four-part series on the implementation and outcomes of Louisiana's education initiatives, focuses on Louisiana's strategies to support and improve K-12 academics.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Preparing School Leaders for Success

The New Leaders program offers rigorous, research-based training for aspiring principals. Students in K-8 schools led by New Leaders principals outperformed students in K-8 schools led by other new principals in test scores and attendance rates. Both participants and district partners expressed favorable views of the program.

Feb 25, 2019
Research Brief

What Teachers Know and Do in the Common Core Era: Findings from the 2015–2017 American Teacher Panel

This brief describes work derived from five reports in RAND Education, which summarize some changes in what teachers know about Common Core standards and what they do in the classroom, based on RAND American Teacher Panel surveys.

Oct 2, 2018
Report

What Teachers Know and Do in the Common Core Era

Have Common Core State Standards changed what teachers think and do? Survey findings suggest that states must do more to support teachers' knowledge about standards and standards-aligned practices. Online venues may be a good way to provide such support.

Sep 27, 2018
Commentary

Louisiana's Education System Is Evolving: Here's What Parents Need to Know

Louisiana has taken big steps to improve its education policies and the education of the state's children, from birth to grade 12. Parents can help their children benefit from the reforms by being informed about the changes and knowing how to take advantage of new resources.

Sep 12, 2018
Report

How Well Do Math Teachers Follow Common Core State Standards?

Teachers are eager to engage their students in Common Core State Standards for mathematics if they have the knowledge and tools they need to do so. They need access to high-quality instructional materials and help in distinguishing whether these materials are aligned with the standards.

Aug 9, 2018
Report

How Schools Could Support Teachers' Implementation of State Standards

Most states have adopted more rigorous college and career readiness standards in the past decade. How do schools support teachers' implementation of these standards? School leaders need more training and support to better understand content and approaches aligned with their state standards.

May 3, 2018
Report

The Majority of Teachers Aren't Clear on the Reading Instruction Approaches Most Aligned with State Standards

English language arts teachers could increase their use of more complex, text-based practices if they received clearer guidance from states and districts about what is expected. They also need better supports and curriculum resources to engage in those approaches.

Feb 21, 2018
Tool

RAND School Leadership Intervention Evaluation Toolkit

This toolkit is a companion to School Leadership Interventions Under the Every Student Succeeds Act: An Evidence Review. The authors provide guidance and tools for designing and conducting evaluations of school leadership interventions.

Feb 7, 2018
Report

Improving School Leadership Under the Every Student Succeeds Act

The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states and districts new opportunities to invest in school leadership. Looking at the evidence base on school leadership interventions can help inform policymakers' decisions.

Dec 14, 2017
Tool

Logic Models for Selecting, Designing, and Implementing Evidence-Based Leadership Interventions: Companion Guide to School Leadership Interventions Under the Every Student Succeeds Act

This guide describes six types of school leadership interventions, summarizes common components of evidence-based interventions, and unpacks the relationships between the intervention activities and student outcomes.

Dec 14, 2017
Commentary

Giving State Educators What They Need to Stand Apart—and Together

States have an opportunity to provide better instructional materials to teachers hungry for more resources aligned with state standards. By focusing on what they agree students should learn, states could work together to build curricula and shore up other key supports.

Apr 4, 2017
Report

How Are Teachers Perceiving and Addressing State Standards?

A high percentage of mathematics teachers report using instructional materials with some demonstrated evidence of alignment to Common Core State Standards. However, there is less evidence that state standards are playing a role in the materials English language arts teachers use.

Apr 4, 2017
Report

Creating an Indicator of K–12 Classroom Coverage of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Content and Practices

This report explores ways of measuring classroom coverage of content and practices in the Common Core State Standards for math and the Next Generation Science Standards to improve science, technology, engineering, and math education.

Mar 28, 2017
Report

Use of Open Educational Resources in an Era of Common Standards

EngageNY Curricula is commonly used in New York—in part due to educators' desire to help students meet state standards. Survey data shows EngageNY gives students more opportunities to engage in standards-aligned practices compared with other materials.

Mar 27, 2017

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RAND Topic:
Standards-Based Education Reform

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