Review Protocols
Research has shown that teacher effectiveness is the most important school-based factor that influences student outcomes, including student achievement. Studies have also shown that there is substantial variation in teacher effectiveness, such that some teachers improve student outcomes at a much faster rate than others. The strong influence of teachers on student outcomes, as well as the variation in teacher effectiveness, has led to the creation of numerous programs designed to help teachers improve student outcomes.
This review focuses on interventions aimed at making teachers more effective at improving the achievement of students in grades PK–12. These interventions are targeted at adults who are considering teaching; undergoing teacher preparation; or already employed in the teaching profession. The interventions may be delivered in a variety of educational and training settings. Although the interventions are delivered to teachers (or potential teachers), this review focuses on outcomes for both students and teachers. Student outcomes include measures of achievement, progression in school, social-emotional learning, and behavior. Teacher outcomes include those that research has shown are related to these student outcomes, including teacher retention and instructional practice.
The following research questions guide this review:
- Which teacher-focused interventions improve achievement, progression in school, social-emotional learning, and behavior for students in grades PK–12?
- Which teacher-focused interventions improve outcomes for teachers that are related to these student outcomes?
Prior versions available for download.
Protocol Details
- Version: 4.0
- Released: May 2019
- Version: 3.2
- Released: July 2016
- Version: 3.1
- Released: May 2015
- Version: 3.0
- Released: March 2014
What is a Protocol?
Starting in January 2021, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) uses the Study Review Protocol in combination with the Procedures and Standards Handbook to guide reviews of all studies. In particular, the Study Review Protocol provides additional information on eligible outcome domains for all topic areas reviewed by the WWC and provides examples of outcome measures that fall within each domain.
When conducting systematic reviews, the WWC uses the Study Review Protocol to review studies and an accompanying topic area synthesis protocol to define the parameters of the systematic review. The synthesis protocol provides criteria for the literature search; guidance on how to identify and prioritize relevant studies for review and inclusion in evidence synthesis products; and guidance on intervention, sample, and outcome eligibility criteria for the synthesis.
Prior to 2021, studies were typically reviewed using a topic-specific synthesis protocol and the corresponding version of the Procedures and Standards Handbook. In addition to defining the parameters for the review, these protocols described any topic-specific applications of the design standards, such as how to establish baseline equivalence between samples when required.