Overview
Networks consists of multiple grantees working together to advance the field's understanding of the network's priorities. In FY 2022, IES competed the Leveraging Evidence to Accelerate Recovery Nationwide Network (the LEARN Network) topic which invited applications for research that would focus on adapting and scaling up existing, evidence-based products with the potential to accelerate students' learning for the many learners enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, postsecondary education, or adult education programs whose learning was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose
The LEARN Network is focused on adapting and preparing to scale existing, evidence-based products that have the potential to accelerate students' learning relative to pre-pandemic rates of growth for the many learners enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 whose learning was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The network is specifically focused on learning acceleration and recovery for students from underrepresented groups that were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. IES made four awards to product teams and one to a scaling lead, and these five teams together establish the LEARN Network. In addition to generating solutions to the nation's most pressing challenges to COVID-19 recovery within the education sector, IES expects that the combined efforts of this network will lead to the establishment of best practices for the field for how to prepare to effectively scale evidence-based products.
Network lead
LEARN Network lead
Principal Investigator: Rebecca Griffiths, SRI International
The Network Scaling Lead will facilitate training, coaching, and collaboration activities with product teams; ensure educator needs and perspectives are addressed; and provide a model for the field that ensures evidence-based products are developed with the potential to achieve impact at scale for students—particularly those in most need—from the start.
Product teams
Modifying an Evidence-Based Peer-Mediated Reading Program to Differentiate Instruction and Accelerate Learning Among Underrepresented Groups: Implementing PALS in the Rio Grande Valley
Principal Investigator: Lauren Artzi, American Institutes for Research (AIR)
This product team will adapt and prepare to scale Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) Reading, an evidence-based literacy program for students in grades 4 and 5.
Scaling Targeted Reading Instruction (TRI) to Serve Students Impacted by COVID-19: Digital Implementation of an Effective Intervention
Principal Investigator: Mary Bratsch-Hines, University of Florida
This product team will adapt and prepare to scale Targeted Reading Instruction (TRI), an evidence-based reading program for kindergarten through grade 3 students.
Adapting STARI to Accelerate Student Reading Achievement in Middle Grades
Principal Investigator: Margaret Troyer, Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP) Institute
This product team will adapt and prepare to scale Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention (STARI), an evidence-based reading program for middle grades students reading two or more years below grade level.
Classwide Fraction Intervention With Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies to Support
Learning Acceleration
Principal Investigator: Toni Smith, American Institutes for Research (AIR)
This product team will adapt and prepare to scale CFI+PALS, a math product for fifth grade students that combines two evidence-based interventions: Classwide Fraction Intervention (CFI) and Math Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS).