WASHINGTON
CORNER
models are ready to go, and will work in
whatever schools are prepared to adopt
them--both charter schools and traditional
public schools.
Becoming an Agent of Change
Arne Duncan cannot reform education on
his own. He is depending on thousands of
state and local education leaders to serve as
agents of change.
No one is under the illusion that these
changes will be easy. It is all too easy to use
the latest buzz words but maintain the status
quo, but doing so deprives students of their
potential for future success. True agents of
change in a school or district are often met
with resistance. Education leaders must
step away from the latest popular trend, and
make the bold decisions that are required to
achieve long term, sustainable reform.
Several organizations that offer
comprehensive, research-based turnaround
models also offer support to school leaders
striving to implement bold reforms. With the
Department of Education behind the effort as
well, the momentum today is stronger than
ever before. This is the perfect moment for
cultivating bold reforms. For once, Washington
is supporting the use of what works, rather
than advocating for the elusive silver bullet.
Educators need to embrace this opportunity
Arne Duncan cannot reform education on his own.
by working to improve all aspects of teaching
and school organization, which will add up to
He is depending on thousands of state and local education
real and lasting turnaround. leaders to serve as agents of change
Useful Resources for Identifying Reform Models
Best Evidence Encyclopedia Sciences to promote informed education reviews and supplemental guidance on the
www.bestevidence.org decision making. The WWC website provides effectiveness and quality of comprehensive
The Best Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE) is educators with databases and reports school reform (CSR) models.
produced by the Johns Hopkins University. It that review the effectiveness of replicable Reviews Include:
is intended to give educators and researchers educational interventions intended to Elementary school CSR models
fair and useful information about the improve student outcomes. Middle and high school CSR models
strength of the evidence supporting a variety Reviews Include: Education service providers
of programs available for students in grades Beginning reading
Social Programs That Work
K-12. Elementary math
www.evidencebasedprograms.org
Reviews Include: Middle school math
The Social Programs That Work website was
Beginning reading Early childhood education
developed by the Coalition for Evidence-
Upper-elementary reading English language learners
Based Policy, whose mission is to promote
Middle/high school reading Dropout prevention
government policy making based on rigorous
Struggling readers Character education
evidence of program effectiveness. The site
English language learners
Comprehensive School Reform Quality provides policy makers and practitioners with
Early childhood education
Center clear, actionable information on what works,
Elementary math
www.csrq.org as demonstrated in scientifi cally-valid studies.
Middle/high school math
The Comprehensive School Reform Quality Topics Include:
Financial incentives
Center (CSRQ), which operated from 2003 Education
Comprehensive school reform
through 2006, was established through Youth development
What Works Clearinghouse a grant to the American Institutes for Crime/violence prevention
ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc Research from the Offi ce of Elementary and Mental health
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Secondary Education of the U.S. Department Substance abuse prevention
was established by the U.S. Department of Education. The CSRQ website provides Employment
of Education’s Institute of Education an extensive series of consumer-friendly Welfare
fall 2009 Better: Evidence-based Education 23
Better(US) Fall09.indb 23 14/10/09 13:05:39
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