The educational testing landscape is changing in many significant ways as evidence-based, principled assessment design (PAD) approaches are formally adopted. This article discusses the challenges and presents some score scale- and task-focused strategies for developing useful performance-level descriptors (PLDs) under a PAD approach. Details of…

The incorporation of evidence derived from multiple research designs into one single synthesis can enhance the utility of systematic reviews making them more worthwhile, useful, and insightful. Methodological guidance for mixed-methods synthesis continues to emerge and evolve but broadly involves a sequential, parallel, or convergent approach…

This paper introduces a literature from outside the field of education research and policy that we argue has potential to enhance both policy and practice. This field, behavioral genetics, has amassed highly replicable findings spanning more than half a century. Although no necessary policy implications follow from the evidence we review here,…

Teacher professional development is a constantly evolving phenomenon. It is important for effective classroom practice, teacher identity and student learning. This research explores evidence-based teaching portfolios as authentic and continuous professional development involving cross-sectoral and cross-contextual teacher collaboration.…

There is a growing knowledge base in mathematics education highlighting the importance of teachers' cognizance about what and how they are noticing, namely considerations about their attending, interpreting, and decisions to respond on the basis of students' thinking. However, less focus has centered on those in teacher leader positions and how…

Alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) have historically lacked broad validity evidence and an overall evaluation of the extent to which evidence supports intended uses of results. An expanding body of validation literature, the funding of two AA-AAS consortia, and advances in computer-based assessment have…

Education policy makers must make decisions under uncertainty. Thus, how they think about risks has important implications for resource allocation, interventions, innovation, and the information that is provided to the public. In this policy brief we illustrate how the standard of evidence for making decisions can be quite inconsistently applied,…

Goal attainment scaling (GAS) is an internationally recognized measure that is widely used in educational, counseling, and clinical settings to identify and evaluate relevant goals for an individual. The GAS is an unusual measure because its content, which consists of goals, is formed by the respondent and/or users in the process of completing the…

This innovative guide is now in a revised and expanded second edition with an even stronger applied focus. It helps educators harness the potential of single-case design (SCD) as a critical element of data-based decision making in a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). The authors present simple and complex SCDs and demonstrate their use to…

The purpose of this dissertation is to identify factors that are associated with evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation. This research is an important step toward finding reasons why many EBP implementation efforts have failed. As a result, this study can provide better ways to improve EBP adoption rates. Particularly, this dissertation…

Background: We examine effects on oral reading fluency (defined as automatic word recognition and prosody) when phrase-cued text (defined as marking the phrase boundaries in text) is layered on to readers theatre, an evidence-based instructional format that includes multiple readings over a period of about 5 days as students practice and prepare…

Background: The aspiration to use evidence to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of policies is widely shared but often falls short. A common explanation for failure is the presence of barriers to utilising evidence or the inadequacies of the evidence available to policy makers. Aims and objectives: The article examines how and why…

This article examines findings from an umbrella review of 95 systematic reviews and meta-analyses on effective reading instruction. The analysis highlights that reading is a multifaceted process, requiring the integration of key components such as decoding, comprehension, fluency, and motivation. The review underscores the importance of early…

In an era of rapid change, it is important to not lose sight of the potential of high-quality teaching and the power of refining teaching practices that have demonstrated impact. This report aims to deepen understanding of the complexities of teaching and its multifaceted nature as a discipline grounded in scientific research, but so too an art…

Mathematics skills are crucial in the current job market; however, many students with disabilities are graduating high school with limited mathematics knowledge and skills. Mathematics skills are fundamental for navigating the complexities of everyday life after high school, extending their importance beyond the workplace to community engagement.…