Policymaker News provides legislators and other state policymakers with concise, timely overviews of rigorous evidence-based research conducted on high priority, regionally-relevant education issues, such as assessment, college readiness, professional development, intervention strategies and special populations. Policymaker News includes:
- Major findings that can inform decision-making on important policy topics
- Background facts that highlight the national and regional importance of the issue
- Key questions for policymakers to consider in applying the research results to policy development
Applying an on-track indicator for high school graduation: Adapting the Consortium on Chicago School Research Indicator for five Texas districts
To assist policymakers in their efforts to increase the number of students graduating from high school, the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southwest conducted a study that investigated the application of the CCSR on-track indicator in five school districts in Texas.
How prepared are students for college-level reading? Applying a Lexile-based approach
To assist policymakers in their efforts to measure whether their state is meeting goals to prepare high school students to succeed in college courses, this study documents the new methodology that was developed.
Are Texas' English language arts and reading standards college ready?
This study provides policymakers with information about how the ACT and the ADP national college readiness standards sets align with the TEKS for English language arts and reading standards for grades 9-12.
A systematic comparison of the American Diploma Project English language arts college readiness standards with those ACT, College Board, and Standards for Success
This study provides policymakers with information about the broad areas of agreement and disagreement in content among the four sets of standards and identifies the level of cognitive complexity that these standards represent.
Reviewing the Evidence on How Teacher Professional Development Affects Student Achievement
Study examines the effect of teacher professional development on student achievement in mathematics, science, reading, and English/language, offering policymakers data when considering teacher professional development legislation.
Examining context and challenges in measuring investment in professional development: A case study of six school districts in the Southwest region.
To assist administrators in understanding the context and challenges of measuring investment in professional development and how to collect the necessary expenditure and cost data to support such an examination.
How the government defines rural has implications for education policies and practices.
Clearly defining what rural means has tangible implications for public policies and practices in education, from establishing resource needs to achieving the goals of No Child Left Behind in rural areas.
Alternate assessments for special education students in the Southwest Region states.
To assist policymakers in understanding the challenges of alternate standards for special education students, and their implementation and impact, as determined by No Child Left Behind.
Formative assessment policies, programs, and practices in the Southwest Region
To assist policymakers in determining the role that formative assessment can play in their state’s comprehensive assessment system.
La Frontera: student achievement in Texas border and nonborder districts
This study provides policymakers with a data-driven profile of the education environment along the U.S.–Mexico border in Texas, an area known as La Frontera.
Aligning science standards: Arkansas and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The purpose of the report is to give policymakers information to use in determining if changes to assessment standards are needed to more closely align with the NAEP standards.
Aligning science standards: Louisiana and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The purpose of the report is to give policymakers information to use in determining if changes to assessment standards are needed to more closely align with the NAEP standards.
PDF File, 182 KB
Aligning science standards: New Mexico and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The purpose of the report is to give policymakers information to use in determining if changes to assessment standards are needed to more closely align with the NAEP standards.
Aligning science standards: Oklahoma and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The purpose of the report is to give policymakers and educators information to use in determining if changes to assessment standards are needed to more closely align with the NAEP standards.
Aligning science standards: Texas and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The purpose of the report is to give policymakers information to use in determining if changes to assessment standards are needed to more closely align with the NAEP standards.
| 
are trademarks of Edvance Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved