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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

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 only had 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

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
Tool

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
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
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

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
Journal Article

Journal Article

Text-based Writing Assignments for College Readiness

The authors describe the features of text-based writing assignments that increase students' reading comprehension and analytic writing skills and put students on the path to college readiness.

Mar 13, 2017
Report

Are Teachers Prepared to Help Students Meet Common Core Standards for English?

The majority of K-12 teachers are expected to address state standards for English language arts and literacy, but many reported the need for professional development to help students meet these standards.

Dec 19, 2016
News Release

News Release

Options for Improving School Leadership

School leadership can have an important effect on student achievement. New federal rules offer states and school districts greater flexibility about how to use federal funds to strengthen school leadership.

Dec 13, 2016
Commentary

How States and Districts Can Leverage the Every Student Succeeds Act to Improve School Leadership

The Every Student Succeeds Act provides states and districts with new chances to invest in school leadership. A review of interventions can serve as a starting point to enact relevant solutions and build the evidence base for what works.

Dec 12, 2016
Report

Are Teachers Prepared to Help Students Meet Common Core State Standards for Mathematics?

In a survey of the American Teacher Panel, most mathematics educators reported familiarity with Common Core state standards and believed they were moderately or well prepared to help their students meet them.

Oct 27, 2016
News Release

News Release

Teachers in Louisiana Are More Likely to Teach to State Standards Than Teachers in Other States

Louisiana teachers are more likely to consult classroom resources that address their state standards, and they report teaching and thinking about instruction in ways that differ from the norms seen among teachers in other states.

Oct 13, 2016
Report

Louisiana Teachers Think About and Implement State Standards

State education leaders' efforts to align instruction with standards appear to be making a difference. Louisiana teachers regularly consult classroom resources that address state standards, and are teaching in ways that differ from the norms in other states.

Oct 13, 2016

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RAND Topic:
Standards-Based Education Reform

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