Evidence-Based Improvement: A Guide for States to Strengthen their Frameworks and Supports Aligned to the Evidence Requirements of ESSA

Time: 12:30 - 2:45 pm

Location: The Golden Nugget, Reno, Nevada

Description: At the request of a seven-state community of practice focused on improving and strengthening educator evaluation systems as a means to support educators' professional growth and instructional improvement, REL West will develop and facilitate two sessions during a regular convening of the community of practice. These states have requested assistance in identifying and applying the evidence-base of educator effectiveness strategies allowable with the use of Title II funds with the intention of using the evidence-base to guide local education agencies' decisions in their use of Title II funds. The organizing committee particularly wanted REL West to share the Evidence-based Improvement Guide (Hale, et al. 2016) developed by REL West with input from RELs, CCs, and states that was published by WestEd.

Audience: Seven states currently participate in a community of practice (Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Tennessee) co-sponsored by the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders and the West Comprehensive Center. SEA teams of five to seven people as well as staff from the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders and the West Comprehensive Center, approximately 60 people, are the primary audience for this event.

Speakers: Sylvie Hale, Senior Project Director, REL West Reino Makkonen, Senior Policy Associate, REL West

Report Citation: Hale, S., Dunn, L., Filby, N., Rice, J. & Van Houten, L. (October, 2016). Evidence-based improvement: A guide for states to strengthen their frameworks and supports aligned to the evidence requirements of ESSA (Review Draft). San Francisco: REL West at WestEd.