NCER What's New

Publications Emerging From Research Funded through the National Center for Education Research

11/17/2009

Interested in learning more about findings from research supported by NCER? A comprehensive list of publications from research grants funded since 2002 is now available.

NCER announces new FY 2009 Awards for Education Research and Development Center Program

7/15/2009

NCER recently awarded two new research grants from the FY2009 Education Research and Development Center Program (84.305C). The awardees are:

The National Center for Research on Rural Education
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Susan M. Sheridan

National Center on Teacher Effectiveness: Validating Measures of Effective Math Teaching
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Thomas Kane and Heather Hill

NCER announces new FY 2009 Awards

7/1/2009

NCER recently awarded a total of 52 awards to applications considered under the three FY 2009 competitions: Education Research Grants Program (CFDA 84.305A); Predoctoral Training Grants Program (CFDA 84.305B); and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E).

Chronically Low-Performing Schools Research Initiative (84.305G) Request for Applications Released

6/23/2009

The National Center for Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the Chronically Low-Performing Schools Research Initiative (84.305G) Request for Applications. The Chronically Low-Performing Schools Research Initiative will support the development of interventions that target specific problems faced by chronically low-performing schools and test their promise of success in addressing those problems within a relatively short time period. The work is to be done in collaboration with schools and district partners and result in interventions that can be implemented by a principal of a low-performing school or by a district in conjunction with the principals of such schools.

A Letter of Intent is requested by August 3, 2009 and the Application Deadline is October 1, 2009.

IES has released the FY2010 Request For Applications (RFAs) for NCER research and research training grant competitions

3/23/2009

IES has released the FY2010 Request For Applications (RFAs) for NCER research and research training grant competitions. The five NCER RFAs are: Education Research Grants (84.305A); Postdoctoral Education Research Training Program in the Education Sciences (84.305B); Education Research and Development Center Program (84.305C); Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D); and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E). The RFAs are available at: http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

IES Funding Opportunities Sessions at SRCD and AERA

3/10/2009

Individuals interested in preparing research grant applications for the National Center for Education Research and the National Center for Special Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences, and planning to attend the upcoming meetings of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) or the American Educational Research Association (AERA), are invited to attend the two funding opportunities sessions described below.

NCER Associate Commissioner for Teaching and Learning Elizabeth Albro will be leading a preconference workshop at SRCD on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 from 1-4 pm, entitled "Preparing Grant Applications for the Institute of Education Sciences." The workshop will be held in Agate B at the Hyatt Regency Denver. If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please contact Dr. Albro at elizabeth.albro@ed.gov.

NCER Associate Commissioner for Policy and Systems Allen Ruby will be participating in a session at AERA entitled "Federal Agency Support for Education Research in 2008 and 2010." This session will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 12:25–1:55 pm, in Ballroom 6D of the San Diego Convention Center. If you would like additional information, please contact Dr. Ruby at allen.ruby@ed.gov.

NCER announces FY 2009 Awards

3/4/2009

NCER made a series of new research grant awards in March. The list of awards is for Cycle 1 only, and is as follows:

Reading and Writing

Designing Assessment to Enhance English Literacy Development Among Spanish-Speaking Children in Grades K–3
The Rectors and Visitors of the University of Virginia, Marcia Invernizzi

Development of a Multifaceted, Comprehensive Vocabulary Instructional Program for the Upper Elementary Grades
University of Wyoming, James Baumann

Investigating Vocabulary Breadth and Depth and Comprehension in English Monolingual and Spanish-English Bilingual Elementary School Students
University of Maryland, Rebecca Silverman

National Randomized Controlled Trial Study of SRA/McGraw-Hill Open-Court Reading Program
Southwest Educational Development Corporation, Michael Vaden-Kiernan

Mathematics and Science Education

The Cognitive, Psychometric, and Instructional Validity of Curriculum-Embedded Assessments: In-Depth Analyses of the Resources Available to Teachers Within "Everyday Mathematics"
University of Illinois at Chicago, James Pellegrino

Systems and Cycles: Using Structure-Behavior-Function Thinking as a Conceptual Tool for Understanding Complex Natural Systems in Middle School Science
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cindy Hmelo-Silver

Testing the Effectiveness of CALM for High School Chemistry Students
Indiana University, Jonathan Plucker

Efficacy of the Science Writing Heuristic Approach
University of Iowa, Brian Hand

ASSISTment Meets Science Learning (AMSL)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Janice Gobert

Molecules & Minds: Developing Bridging Scaffolds to Improve Chemistry Learning
New York University, Catherine Milne

Efficacy Study of AnimalWatch: An Intelligent Tutoring System for Pre-Algebra
WestEd, Steve Schneider

Cognition and Student Learning

An Efficacy Study of Two Computer-Based Attention Training Systems in Schools
Tufts Medical Center, Naomi Steiner

Teacher Quality — Mathematics and Science

INSPIRE Urban Teaching Fellows Program
University of Cincinnati, Carla Johnson

Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning

Improving Classroom Learning Environments by Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE)
The Pennsylvania State University, Patricia Jennings

Online School Staff Training: Establishing Positive Behavior Supports in Elementary School Instructional Settings
IRIS Media, Inc., Brion Marquez

Mindfulness-Based Academic Achievement Program for Middle Sch

Small Business Innovation Research Program Fast-Track Request for Proposals Now Available

12/18/2008
The Institute of Education Sciences invites qualified small business firms to submit a "Fast-Track" (Phase I & Phase II) proposal for up to $850,000 for the research and development of technological products that lead to improved student learning or improve the efficiency with which schools are operated. The due date and time for the receipt of proposals is 12PM EST on January 22, 2009.

Effects of Preschool Curriculum Programs on School Readiness: Report from the Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research Initiative

7/28/2008
The National Center for Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences today released the report on the Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research (PCER) initiative, an efficacy evaluation of several preschool curricula. The report, Effects of Preschool Curriculum Programs on School Readiness, provides individual results for each curriculum evaluated. Under the PCER initiative, twelve research teams were funded to implement and conduct research on 14 preschool curricula in a variety of settings serving predominantly low-income children under an experimental design. Evaluation data were collected from all research sites in fall and spring of the preschool year and spring of the kindergarten year using a common set of measures. The goal of the PCER initiative was to identify the impact of each preschool curriculum on five student-level outcomes (reading, phonological awareness, language, mathematics, and behavior) and six classroom-level outcomes (classroom quality, teacher-child interaction, and four types of instruction). This final report presents findings for the impact of each curriculum on student-level and classroom-level outcomes.

FY 2008 Awards, Second Phase, Awarded July 1, 2008

7/16/2008
NCER made a series of new research grant awards in July. This list of awards is for Cycle 2 only and is as follows:
COGNITION & STUDENT LEARNING

Mindful Instruction of Nonmainstream Children
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Richard Anderson

Developing the Retrieval-Monitoring-Feedback (RMF) Method for Improving the Durability and Efficiency of Student Learning
Kent State University, Katherine Rawson

Extension of an Argument Curriculum to an Academically Disadvantaged Middle-School Population
Teachers College, Columbia University, Deanna Kuhn

Making Sense of Concrete Models for Mathematics
Michigan State University, Kelly Mix

A Cognitive Approach to Implementing Tree Thinking in High School and College Biology Curricula
Vanderbilt University, Laura Novick

Scaffolding Students' Use of Multiple Representations for Science Learning
University of Wisconsin, Sadhana Puntambekar

The Organization of Mathematical Knowledge
Northwestern University, Lance Rips

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES

Efficacy of Read It Again! In Rural Preschool Settings
The Ohio State University, Laura Justice

Educational Television to Enhance Young Children's Language and Vocabulary Skills
Florida State University, Beth Phillips

Test of Emergent Writing Skills
Florida State University, Cynthia Puranik

EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

A Randomized Control Trial to Assess the Efficacy of the Balanced Leadership Program
University of Michigan, Roger Goddard

The Development and Validation of the Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education
University of Pennsylvania, Andrew Porter

EDUCATION POLICY, FINANCE, AND SYSTEMS

Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time: Implementation and Outcomes
Massachusetts Department of Education, Carrie Conaway

Kids Integrated Data System (KIDS): An Evidence-Based System for Enhancing Educational Proficiency and Social Adjustment
University of Pennsylvania, John Fantuzzo

School Responses to AYP Classification Due to Student Subgroups and the Relationship to Student Achievement
University of Pennsylvania, Elliot Weinbaum

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Expanding the Science and Literacy Curricular Space: The GlobalEd II Project
University of Connecticut, Scott Brown

Advancing Ecosystems Science Education via Situated Collaborative Learning in Multi-User Virtual Environments
Harv

NCER Announces FY 2008 Awards

3/26/2008
NCER made a series of new research program grant awards in March. This list of awards is for cycle I only and is as follows:
COGNITION & STUDENT LEARNING
Guided Cognition for Unsupervised Learning of Mathematics
Fordham University, William Whitten

Improving Children's Numerical Understanding
Carnegie Mellon University, Robert Siegler

Efficacy of Earobics Step I in English Language Learners and Low SES Minority Children
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Jason Anthony

The Diagnostic Geometry Assessment Project
Boston College, Michael Russell

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES
Closing the SES Related Gap in Young Children's Mathematical Knowledge
University of California, Prentice Starkey

Increasing the Efficacy of an Early Mathematics Curriculum with Scaffolding Designed to Promote Self-Regulation
State University of New York at Buffalo, Doug Clements

EDUCATION POLICY, FINANCE, AND SYSTEMS
Catholic School Prices, Private School Attendance, and Student Outcomes
National Bureau of Economic Research, Susan Dynarski

Creating an Integrated Resource Information System to Assess Student, Teacher, Classroom, and School Effects on Value-Added Student Learning Gains and to Support More Cost-Effective Budgeting
University of Wisconsin, Robert Meyer

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Studying the Potential of Virtual Performance Assessments for Measuring Student Achievement in Science
Harvard University, Christopher Dede

HIGH SCHOOL REFORM
The Consequences for High School Students of Failing State Exit Exams: Evidence from Massachussetts
Harvard University, Richard Murnane

A Curriculum Engagement: Micro-process Interventions in Middle and High School to Improve Attendance, Behavior, Achievement and Grade Promotion for At-Risk Ninth Graders
Johns Hopkins University, Nettie Legters

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION
A Longitudinal Study of Gender and Mathematics Using ECLS-K Data
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Sarah Lubienski

Bringing Cognitive Tutors to the Internet: A Website that Helps Middle-School Students Learn Math
Carnegie Mellon University, Vincent Aleven

A Randomized Controlled Study of the Effects of Intelligent Online Chemistry Tutors in Urban California School Districts
WestEd, Steven Schneider

Early Learning in Mathematics: Efficacy in Kindergarten Classrooms
Pacific Institutes for Research, Scott Baker

Multilevel Assessments of Science Standards (MASS)
WestEd, E

IES releases RFAs for two NCER FY 2009 research and research training grant competitions: Education Research Training Grants (84.305B) and Education Research and Development Center Grants (84.305C)

3/20/2008
IES has released funding announcements for two NCER FY 2009 research and research training grant competitions: Education Research Training Grants (84.305B) and Education Research and Development Center Grants (84.305C).

New NCER FY2009 Competition on Evaluating State and Local Education Programs and Policies

3/12/2008
Through its new research program in Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E), the Institute will provide support for rigorous evaluations of state or local education programs or policies implemented by State or local education agencies. The deadline for this program is October 2, 2008. The Requests for Applications are available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/funding/ .

IES Workshop on Evaluating State and District Level Interventions

3/12/2008
The Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor a one-day workshop on evaluating state- and district-level interventions. The purpose of the workshop is to help states and districts plan and design rigorous evaluations of their policies and programs. The workshop will provide an overview of quasi-experimental and experimental evaluation designs, with a focus on state-level and district-level design issues.

IES releases RFAs for three NCER FY 2009 research grant competitions: Education Research program (84.305A), Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D), and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E)

2/29/2008
IES has released funding announcements for three NCER FY 2009 research grant competitions: Education Research program (84.305A), Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D), and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E). The Requests for Applications are available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/funding/.

The Education Research program (84.305A) covers a broad range of topics and the application deadlines are: June 26, 2008 and October 2, 2008. New this year are the research programs in Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D) and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E). Through the grant program on Statistical and Research Methodology in Education, IES will provide support for research to advance education research methodologies and statistical analyses. The deadline for this program is June 26, 2008. Through the research program in Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies, the Institute will provide support for rigorous evaluations of state or local education programs or policies implemented by State or local education agencies. The deadline for this program is October 2, 2008.