Standards-based teacher evaluations have become the norm in many states due to an increased focus on student achievement and teacher effectiveness. These evaluations have become integral to the improvement of classroom instruction efforts and the planning of specific professional development for teachers. West Virginia deployed a new…

This dissertation investigates teacher evaluation as a practice rather than a measurement instrument. It focuses on how teachers make sense of what constitutes "quality teaching" during teacher evaluation activities, and how locally developed organizational routines work to define "quality." Although teacher evaluation advocacy…

This report provides results from the most recent update of information about the early childhood assessment practices of individual states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. It is divided into the following sections: (1) The Importance of Early Childhood Education; (2) The Role of Early Childhood Assessments; (3) Types of Assessment…

With the increased inclusion of student academic growth in school accountability decisions, the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI) has received multiple queries regarding how states are incorporating student growth measures into their accountability systems. CSAI recently sought to answer this question through a scan of state…

This paper provides insights into the evaluation of educational research in order to strengthen research projects and increase the quality of evidence about what works to improve student learning from the lens of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. In particular, TEAMS hopes this publication will increase the…

The universal foundation of all Catholic Schools is passing on the faith and ensuring high quality academic instruction is provided by qualified Catholic educators. This directive was affirmed in a document entitled, Renewing our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, stating, "All Catholics must join…

This paper reports findings from a national wide research project in Norway called "Research on individual assessment in schools" (FIVIS), with the main purpose to gain knowledge of how assessment stimulates learning and what characterizes school practices and classroom practices when assessment is used as a tool for learning.The project…

This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed peer-reviewed research concerning the generalization and maintenance of functional living skills for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Following the application of predetermined inclusion criteria, 31 articles (containing 32 studies) were reviewed and summarized in terms of (a)…

Applied researchers are increasingly interested in whether and how treatment effects vary in randomized evaluations, especially variation not explained by observed covariates. We propose a model-free approach for testing for the presence of such unexplained variation. To use this randomization-based approach, we must address the fact that the…

The term "assessment capable" was introduced in New Zealand to distinguish between the more formulaic use of assessment-for-learning practices, and those that empower students to become self-regulated learners. This article explores the concept of assessment capability. It considers what it means to be an assessment-capable teacher in…

In Higher Education Focus Groups and Nominal Group Technique are two well-established methods for obtaining student feedback about their learning experience. These methods are regularly used for the enhancement and quality assurance. Based on small-scale research of educational developers' practice in curriculum development, this study presents…

The paper discusses best practice approaches and metrics for evaluation that support seamless learning with social media. We draw upon the theoretical frameworks of social learning theory, transfer learning (bricolage), and educational design patterns to elaborate upon different ideas for ways in which social media can support seamless learning.…

Research on the evaluation of large-scale public-sector reforms is rare. This article sets out to fill that gap in the evaluation literature and argues that it is of vital importance since the impact of such reforms is considerable and they change the context in which evaluations of other and more delimited policy areas take place. In our…

Evaluation of professional learning illuminates the interactions that occur in the implementation of planned learning experiences and the necessary supports designed to improve professional practice and its effects on students. It investigates how a set of actions designed to achieve defined short- and long-term outcomes occur over time and how…

Actively engaged in online media, learners today are surrounded by texts overtly and covertly transmitted by visual images, sound effects, and voices as well as the written word. Language learning portfolios can engage students in the literacy-oriented learning processes of interpretation, collaboration, and problem solving as outlined by Kern…