LATEST
RESEARCH
The Latest Research
Report: Understanding Reading First: What To summarize the brief, Reading First did higher reading comprehension scores on
We Know, What We Don’t, and What’s increase the provision of professional average among students in Reading First
Next. MDRC Policy Brief. (June 2009) development for teachers, as well as reading schools. However, there is some suggestive
coaches and supports for struggling readers, evidence that Reading First funding may
What? This policy brief describes Reading in schools that received funding. According have improved comprehension in schools
First, the federally funded early reading to the brief, the program also infl uenced in which the effects on teacher instruction
program under the No Child Left Behind how teachers taught – in ways that are were larger.
Act. The brief sets the context in which aligned with scientifi cally-based reading
Reading First was implemented, reviews research (as summarized by the National Authors: Herlihy, C., Kemple, J., Bloom, H.,
studies of the program, summarizes the Reading Panel in 2000) – which was a key Zhu, P., Berlin, G.
fi ndings, and discusses the program’s goal of the legislation.
implications for federal and state policy and Where? This report can be found on the
for future research in the teaching of early Unfortunately, the research shows that MDRC website at http://www.mdrc.org/
reading. these improvements did not produce publications/518/policybrief.pdf
Report: Assisting Students Struggling with subsequent failure. This practice guide practices that have been demonstrated
Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RTI) provides eight specifi c recommendations as effective through rigorous evidence.
for Elementary and Middle Schools. (NCEE intended to help teachers, principals, and When evidence was not available, the
2009 – 4060). Washington, DC: National school administrators use Response to recommendations refl ect best practices as
Center for Education Evaluation and Intervention to identify students in need determined by the authors.
Regional Assistance, Institute of Education of mathematics assistance. The goal of
Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. the guide is to address the needs of these Authors: Gersten, R., Beckmann, S.,
(April 2009) students through focused interventions. Clarke, B., Foegen, A., Marsh, L., Star, J.R.,
Witzel, B.
What? According to the Institute of To develop the guide, the authors reviewed
Education Sciences, students struggling evaluations of mathematics programs for Where? This report can be found on the
with mathematics may benefi t from early low-performing students and students Institute of Education Sciences website
interventions aimed at improving their with learning disabilities. In some cases, at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/
mathematics ability, ultimately preventing recommendations refl ect evidence-based practiceguides/rti_math_pg_042109.pdf
fall 2009 Better: Evidence-based Education 27
Better(US) Fall09.indb 27 14/10/09 13:06:16
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