From the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE)

First Practice Guide Released

Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades is the first in a series of Practice Guides from IES that will be developed by panels of experts. The guides are intended to bring the best available evidence and expertise to bear on the types of systemic challenges that cannot currently be addressed by a single intervention or program. The first guide, released July 3, addresses the challenge of providing effective literacy instruction to English learners in elementary grades. Although the target audience is a spectrum of school practitioners, the more specific objective is to reach district-level administrators with a guide that will help them develop practice and policy options for their schools. The guide offers five specific recommendations for district administrators and indicates the quality of the evidence that supports each.

Early Reading First: Final Report to Congress

This congressionally mandated final report, released in June, presents findings on the impact of Early Reading First. The first national evaluation measures the effect of the program on the language and literacy skills of children and on the instructional content and practices in preschool classrooms.

DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Impacts After One Year

Also congressionally mandated, this report, released June 21, presents findings on the impact of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. The evaluation measures the effects of the program on student achievement in reading and math, and on student and parent perceptions of school satisfaction and safety. The scholarship program is the first federally funded private school voucher program.

WWC Releases Reports

The What Works Clearinghouse has released more than 30 new intervention and topic reports since late spring. Reports cover Beginning Reading, Character Education, Dropout Prevention, Early Childhood Education, English Language Learning, and Middle School Math.