Latest Resources

Scaling Out-of-School Time STEM Programming: A National Scan

To gather information about the field of out-of-school time science, technology, engineering, and math (OST STEM), Education Northwest recently conducted a national scan of OST STEM programs for the...
Lesson Study Resources

Lesson Study is a structured, collaborative professional development intervention with evidence showing that it improves mathematics instruction among K-12 teachers. Lesson Study provides a framework...
Harnessing State Longitudinal Data Systems to Assess Career and Technical Education Outcomes

States are developing comprehensive educational data systems that contain a wealth of student data spanning the pre-K, K-12, and postsecondary education systems.
Adapting Lesson Study for Community College Math Instruction

The Community College Research Center and Education Northwest are collaborating to adapt a pilot project at three community colleges in Oregon to test the usefulness of the lesson study professional development model in higher education.
$Photo of a math teacher and student$

Mathematics Interventions: What Strategies Work for Struggling Learners or Students With Learning Disabilities?

Check out these studies and resources that can help math teachers employ solid teaching practices to support students who are struggling in math and students with learning disabilities.
Early Learning Resources

Provide better support to early learning programs and kindergarten transitions with these resources from Education Northwest and REL Northwest.
Promoting Success for Teachers of English Learners: A Coaching Tool

Partners from CCSSO, AIR and Education Northwest adapted two widely used teacher evaluation and support systems into new resources for teachers with English learners in their classrooms.
Effective Schooling Practices: A Research Synthesis 1995 Update

This classic research synthesis by Researcher Kathleen Cotton cites classroom, school, and district practices that research has shown to foster positive student achievement, attitudes and social behavior.
Parent Involvement in Education

This classic 1989 brief from researchers Kathleen Cotton and Karen Reed Wikelund remains widely cited and circulated more than 20 years after original publication.
Monitoring Student Learning in the Classroom

This classic brief looks at the research on activities pursued by teachers to keep track of student learning for purposes of making instructional decisions and providing student feedback.
Classroom Questioning

This classic brief reviews research on the relationship between teachers' classroom questioning behaviors and a variety of student outcomes, including achievement, retention and participation.
Instructional Grouping

Placing students into small groups can be a powerful approach to stimulate learning. This resource serves educators looking to improve classroom instruction through small-group student learning.
Increasing Student Attendance: Strategies from Research and Practice

This 2004 booklet presents some research-based ideas as a starting place for those who want to develop better policies and practices to support student attendance.
English Language Development Minutes, Models, and Outcomes: Beaverton School District

English Language Learner (ELL) students bring substantial assets such as bilingualism and biculturalism to communities and classrooms, yet their educational achievement is often lower than that of...
Resources for Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Teachers of Color

With a growing body of research showing the positive impact of diverse teachers on students outcomes, what does the research say on strategies for hiring more teachers of color?
Resources for Building Teacher-Student Relationships

Check out this collection of blog posts, videos, education research and websites to help teachers strengthen their relationships with all their students.
Checklist: What Network Organizers Should Look for in an Intermediary

Intermediary organizations that serve as the hub or backbone of an education network can be integral to a network’s success. Use this checklist to assess whether a potential intermediary partner can...
Accelerated Learning in Oregon: Regional Promise Evaluation

To help achieve Oregon’s high school and postsecondary education completion goals, the state has been expanding its investment in accelerated learning options that give high school students the...
What the Research Says on Engaging Native Families

Our librarians compiled this list of evidence-based resources containing information on what changes schools can make to create a more welcoming school climate and increase the engagement of American Indian and Alaska Native families in schools.
What the Research Says on Cyberbullying and Electronic Aggression

Cyberbullying, or electronic aggression, is unwanted behavior by a student or group of students that occurs through email, chat rooms, instant message, websites or social media. Like in-person...
6+1 Trait® Rubrics

Education Northwest has refined and updated the 6+1 Trait Writing rubrics that that specify how to assess the quality of student writing and tailor instruction to students’ needs.
How Long Does It Take Beginning English Learners to Become English Language Proficient? What the Research Says

This list of available recent studies and articles on time to reclassification for English learners can help inform processes such as program planning and resource allocation.
What the Research Says on Supporting the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Students

Research shows that developing students' social and emotional skills can lead to better academic and life outcomes. Check out this collection of recent, readily available studies and articles.
Exploring Youth Voice and Youth-Adult Partnership

An effective and evidence-based way to improve schools, nonprofits, and government agencies is to make decisions in partnership with those being served. This six-page resource provides an overview and tips for educators and youth workers.
What the Research Says on Instruction for English Learners Across Subject Areas

English learners need to develop math and reading skills as well as their knowledge of social studies and science—even while learning English. Find out what the research says on this topic.
What Language Arts Teachers Should Know About Teaching English Learners

English learners benefit from the same approach to reading and writing as their peers but need additional supports. Find out what language arts teachers can do to support their English learners.
$Student solving a math problem on a white board$

What Math Teachers Should Know About Teaching English Learners

Math has its own language, and English learners often struggle to understand math concepts in this language. What can math teachers do to help their English learner students succeed?
What Social Studies Teachers Should Know About Teaching English Learners

The density and complexity of social science textbooks and other texts can be particularly challenging for English learners. What principles and strategies can social studies teachers employ?
What Science Teachers Should Know About Teaching English Learners

Science inquiry poses particular linguistic challenges for English learners. Learn a few principles and strategies for effectively teaching science to students learning English.
What All Teachers Should Know About Instruction For English Language Learners

Learn about the five key principles that all teachers should know about second-language acquisition and the academic challenges English learners face.
Rubric for District English Learner Programs

Designed to help districts assess and optimize their English learner (EL) services, this research-based tool contains 71 items organized into eight sections that address key components of a district’s program for English learners.
Five Characteristics of Successful Education Networks and Five Tips to Achieve Them

What does a high-performing education network look like, and what steps can emerging networks take to get there?
Guiding Questions for Starting a Professional Learning Network

When forming a professional learning network, how do you ensure your efforts are meaningful and sustainable? This resource will help you start your network with a clear purpose and solid direction.
What the Research Says on Professional Learning Networks and Communities

Our librarians compiled this list of readily available, recent studies and articles that leaders can draw from when forming new collaboratives or enhancing existing ones.
What the Research Says About Summer Melt

According to a study, 10 to 20 percent of students who enroll in college do not end up attending in the fall. Summer melt is even more prevalent for low-income students, students in large urban districts, and community-college bound students—with attrition rates as high as 40 percent.
What the Research Says on Career Technical Education (CTE): Updated

Our librarians recently compiled this list of the latest studies and resources that states, districts and schools can draw from to create and improve CTE programs.
Writing for Diverse Learners and More 6+1 Trait Writing Workshops

How do you scaffold instruction for diverse learners—including English learners—so that all students in your classroom become stronger, more confident writers? Our new customized onsite 6+1 Trait®...
Measuring Social and Emotional Learning: A Brief Guide

Think through important decisions on why to measure SEL, how to use SEL data and which skills, mindsets and capacities are appropriate to measure with this informative two-page guide.
What Is the Evidence for an Uninterrupted, 90-Minute Literacy Instruction Block?

This brief provides educators with the background, rationale and evidence for implementing an uninterrupted, 90-minute literacy block as part of a comprehensive approach to teaching reading in elementary schools.
Mentoring Early Career Teachers in Urban Alaska

What difference does a teacher-mentoring program make on early career teachers in Alaska in terms of teacher retention, instructional practice and the academic performance of their students?
Trauma-Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education: A Guide

Raise your awareness on trauma in postsecondary education institutions and how trauma affects learning and development and learn strategies to work effectively with college students who have been exposed to trauma.
How Future Connect is Improving College Success Through Comprehensive Advising and Financial Support

This report is the first external evaluation of Future Connect. It examines the program’s impact on college performance, progression, persistence, transfer, and completion.
Obscured Identities: Improving the Accuracy of Identification of American Indian and Alaska Native Students

This brief serves as a resource for K–12 districts, state education agencies, higher education institutions and district Title VI Indian education offices.
Changing the Conversation

This brief shares key findings from a case study of how Highline Public Schools and its community partners have contributed to the Road Map Project.
AERA 2017

Education Northwest’s work across several research areas, including support for English language learners, college and career readiness, school improvement and equity in public education, will be...
Understanding and Cultivating Social Emotional Learning

Want to learn the basics of social and emotional learning? Download this primer to learn concepts you can use to help students develop “nonacademic skills” and reach their full potential.
OLN 2017 Spring Leadership Institute

Committing to Student Safety: A Call to Action in Uncertain Times The Oregon Leadership Network (OLN) offers institutes twice a year to participants from its member organizations. The program...
What Principals and Administrators Can Do To Ready Their Schools To Support Kindergarten Transitions

Ensure smooth transitions for all incoming kindergarten students and their families with recommendations in this white paper and "taking action" worksheet.
Early Findings on Oregon’s New College Grant Program

This report explores the implementation and signs of progress of Oregon Promise in its first year.
A Case Study of Developmental Education Redesign at Two Oregon Community Colleges

Find out about the progress community colleges in Oregon are making to support students who are traditionally required to take developmental education courses and face a high risk for not graduating from college.
Getting Ahead With Dual Credit: Dual-Credit Participation, Outcomes, and Opportunities in Idaho

This REL Northwest report provides a portrait of dual-credit participation rates and trends in Idaho between the 2011–12 and 2014–15 school years.
What Does the Research Say About Barriers to FAFSA Completion and Strategies to Boost Completion?

Roughly one-third of students who did not file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, would have been eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, which provides aid for low-...
The Impact of the Step Up Scholars Program on College Readiness and Success

Spearheaded by GEAR UP Hawai'i, the Step Up Scholars program was a statewide campaign and program that encouraged Hawai'i public school students in the graduating Classes of 2013, 2014, and 2015 to...
OLN-NEP Designing and Facilitating Meetings for Equity

Registration Open October 17–18, 2016 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Education Northwest, Portland, Oregon Want to learn how to set the conditions required for effective discussion and collaboration focused on...
Parent Guide for English Learners—English and Spanish versions

This guide provides basic information for families of English learners and helps you talk with your child’s school, ask the right questions, and support your child on their journey as an English learner. English and Spanish versions are available.
Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practices for Teaching All Students Equitably

Addressing the unique needs of students from diverse backgrounds is one of the major challenges facing public education today because many teachers are inadequately prepared with the relevant content...
Fostering a Safe and Bias-Free Learning Environment: A Guide for Educators

One form of bullying, harassment, or discrimination often can lead to another. This guide uncovers similarities in the causes, types and responses to different forms of bias and the legal aspects of this problem.
Improving Credit Mobility for Community College Transfer Students

Findings and recommendations from a 10-state study Community colleges are the first point of access to higher education for millions of students looking for an affordable path to a bachelor’s degree...
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Webinar: Focus on Mathematics

Culturally Responsive Mathematics Instruction (Webinar 1) April 28, 2016 Presenter: Patrice Woods This webinar will provide action research-based models of culturally responsive mathematics...
Webinar: Improving Instruction

Good Instruction for All (Webinar 1) April 19, 2016 Presenter: Jacob Williams In this webinar we’ll look at teaching practices that promote high-quality and equitable instruction for all students,...
Changing Developmental Math From a Gatekeeper to a Bridge

New math pathways to address barriers students face in successfully completing college math requirements At community colleges, the majority of new students are considered underprepared for math and...
Webinar: Shifting Toward a Culturally Responsive Common Core

Elementary teachers are well-versed in English Language Arts shifts in the Common Core Standards—but are they equitable? That’s a matter of practice. In our Shifting Toward a Culturally Responsive...
OLN-NEP Teaching with a Cultural Eye - March 2016

This professional development opportunity is offered through a partnership between the Oregon Leadership Network (OLN) and the National Equity Project. The event is hosted by Northwest Regional ESD...
National Collaborative Webinar Series for Mentoring Programs

The Institute for Youth Success (IYS) at Education Northwest is a a lead organizer of the National Collaborative Webinar Series . Each month, we partner with MENTOR: The National Mentoring...
Podcasts for Mentoring and Youth Development Programs

The Institute for Youth Success (IYS) has been supporting youth programs since our inception as the Oregon Mentoring Initiative in 2002. Today, as part of Education Northwest, we work with more than...
OLN-NEP Leading for Equity in Complex Systems

This professional development opportunity is offered through a partnership between the Oregon Leadership Network (OLN) and the National Equity Project. The event is hosted by the Northwest Regional...
OLN–NEP: Instructional Coaching for Equity Seminar

This professional development opportunity is offered through a partnership between the Oregon Leadership Network (OLN) and the National Equity Project. The role of the instructional coach goes beyond...
Youth Worker Symposium 2015

On October 15, 2015 youth development staff from across Oregon attended a Youth Worker Symposium in Portland, Oregon hosted by the Institute for Youth Success at Education Northwest. The event was...
Expanding Opportunities to Earn College Credit at Rural Title I High Schools in Hawaiʻi

A Case Study of Dual-Credit Programs GEAR UP Hawai‘i is committed to improving low-income high school students’ access to college courses and, as a result, requested that Education Northwest, the...
Kaiser Permanente Health Care Career Scholarship Program

Perspectives on the Scholarship and an Evaluation of Its Impact The Kaiser Permanente Health Care Career Scholarship Program began offering scholarships to students in the graduating class of 2009 to...
Oregon Students Have PEP!

Helping Students Plan Through Personalized Learning Education Northwest's Rhonda Barton, Michelle Hodara , and Nora Ostler contributed this article on Oregon's online Personal Education Plan (PEP) to...
What District and School Leaders Can Do To Prepare Rural Students for a Brighter Future

This brief outlines steps district and school leaders can take to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities for students through school-community partnerships.
Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA) Summer Leadership Conference

Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA) Summer Leadership Conference is taking place place in Boise, Idaho on August 5–7, 2015. Researchers from Education Northwest are presenting two...
Coaching and Modeling With 6+1 Trait® Writing

Our most experienced facilitators provide direct classroom modeling, observations, and other coaching and support to guarantee the highest levels of implementation of 6+1 Trait Writing throughout a...
Scoring With 6+1 Trait® Writing

You can have the professional staff at Education Northwest assess your students' writing using 6+1 Trait® Writing. Education Northwest's writing assessors will provide writing assessment scores you...
Oregon Association of Bilingual Education (OABE) Summer Conference

Education Northwest regularly presents at the Oregon Association of Bilingual Education (OABE) Summer Conference . These are the sessions presented in 2014-15. 2015 "Supporting Newcomer English...
AERA 2015

Education Northwest’s work in equity, English learner instruction, postsecondary and career readiness, and school improvement were highlighted at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), April 16–20 in Chicago.
Equity Leadership Team Protocol

The Oregon Leadership Network (OLN) promotes the engagement of school and district staff to continually examine and discuss potential inequities. These conversations may address policy and procedural...
Does Developmental Education Improve Labor Market Outcomes? Evidence From Two States

Findings from two large community college systems show that completing developmental education courses in reading and writing leads to an increase in earnings, suggesting that developmental education...
Native Hawaiian Students’ Achievement Gap in Reading: A Longitudinal Study From Hawaii

This paper looks at reading performance and the achievement gaps between Native Hawaiian students and their white peers with an eye toward informing policy.
A Practitioner’s Guide To Implementing Early Warning Systems

This guide from REL Northwest provides implementation strategies based on the experiences and recommendations of early warning systems practitioners throughout the United States.
Crosswalk Between 6+1 Traits and CCSS English Language Arts Standards for Writing and Language

This Traits-Common Core State Standards crosswalk provides a side-by-side comparison between the content of the 6+1 Traits and the first three CCSS writing standards for grades 11–12.
Student Voice: Listening to What Matters Most

Our schools exist because of our students. As educators we have the awesome responsibility and unique opportunity to reach, teach and prepare our students for tomorrow. To make sure we are doing the...
Using Assessments To Improve Transitions to Kindergarten

The transition from preschool or other early learning settings into kindergarten marks an important event in the lives of more than 3.5 million children and their families each year. This REL...
The Step Up Scholars Program: Perspectives on Its History and Impact

One approach to improve the college and career readiness of American students is to increase the rigor of the high school diploma requirements so that they align with the knowledge and skills...
Leveraging Community College-High School Partnerships to Improve College Preparation

This case study spotlights the promises and challenges of a high school-community college collaboration in Hawaii, the goal of which is to better prepare secondary students for postsecondary success.
Credit for Proficiency

This study addresses the impact of the Road Map World Language Credit Program on students’ attitudes toward bilingualism and school.
Overcoming the Challenges of School Improvement Through a Research-Based, Collaborative Approach

Whether driven by inherent challenges affecting student performance or simply an aspiration to excel, schools want to do better. The challenge is finding a way to get there.
Discipline Disparities: Implications for School Practice and Policy

Creating and enforcing a clear and equitable discipline policy plays an important role in ensuring that all students are afforded the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more than three...
Getting the Most Out of Your GEAR UP Evaluation

Resources from a REL Northwest webinar held June 17, 2014. In this webinar, Education Northwest staff members addressed requirements for rigorous evaluations for GEAR UP.
Indigenous Culture-Based Education Rubrics

This document is organized to provide training and basic information for use of the Indigenous Culture-Based Education Rubrics, which were originally developed to measure culture-based education (CBE...
Equity Priorities in the Northwest and Pacific: A Regional Dialogue

The promise of a public education is that all students will have access to high-quality learning opportunities. Accomplishing this requires collective and coherent action to increase system...
Mobilizing Communities: Improving Northwest Education Through Collective Impact

This publication features profiles of eight education-based collective impact efforts across the Northwest. It also describes lessons learned and identifies ongoing areas of need.
From Training Space to Any Place: Expanding Approaches to E-Learning–Lessons Learned

Our always-on digital world presents “both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity to reframe what learning can and should look like today,” according to the authors of this Lessons...
6+1 Trait® Writing Research

Evidence on the importance of writing Writing skills are important for an increasing number of jobs (National Commission on Writing 2004; Executive Office of the President 2009). Poor writing skills...
Preparing High School Students for the Challenges of Postsecondary Math

In the January 2014 issue of Principal’s Research Review , two Education Northwest authors discuss the research on how to better prepare students for college mathematics. Large numbers of students,...
Working With Indigenous Communities–Evidence Blast

Last fall, REL Northwest, joined with REL Central and REL Pacific to organize a convening of tribal representatives from across the country to examine how our education system can incorporate indigenous language and culture and what research can increase and improve those efforts.
Promoting Academic Engagement Through 21st Century Community Learning Centers: The Oregon Experience

Bringing together the latest research and the expertise of veteran Oregon grantees, this webinar explores promising practices for effectively promoting academic engagement. Veteran 21stCCLC grantees...
Addressing the Challenges of Building and Maintaining Effective Research Partnerships–Lessons Learned

The use of research and data in decision making has become a popular mantra in education circles, but putting it into practice presents some real challenges. Often, educators and policymakers may not...
Equity Assistance Centers Support the Common Core State Standards

How the Common Core Must Ensure Equity by Fully Preparing Every Student for Postsecondary Success Recommendations from the Regional Equity Assistance Centers on Implementation of the Common Core...
Leading School Improvement With "Intension"–Lessons Learned

School leadership is complex and requires wisdom, informed judgment, and choosing among multiple options. Should leaders push for fast results or incremental improvements over time? Do they focus on...
Improving College Math Readiness

A major challenge facing students as they pursue a postsecondary degree is a lack of academic preparedness for college-level math, evident by high rates of referral to developmental math and low...
Full-Day Kindergarten–Evidence Blast

Our Evidence Blast series provides research, data, and resources to help practitioners and policymakers make important decisions about schools and students.
Moving the Needle: Exploring Key Levers to Boost College Readiness Among Black and Latino Males in New York City

Improving college readiness rates, especially for young men of color, requires an understanding of the challenges they face, and of the levers that might serve to increase college readiness and...
Implementing Early Warning Systems

This July 2013 NASSP Principal’s Research Review , written by Education Northwest’s Sarah Frazelle and Rhonda Barton, looks at the research on Early Warning Systems (EWS)
Four-Day School Week–Evidence Blast

Our Evidence Blast series provides research, data, and resources to help practitioners and policymakers make important decisions about schools and students.
Lessons on Leading for Equity

This April 2013 article in Principal Leadership , written by Rob Larson and Rhonda Barton, looks at lessons for school leaders on improving educational equity. It provides examples from OLN member...
Maximizing Your Program’s External Evaluation–Lessons Learned

External evaluation is a critical part of any program. It can tell you what elements are—or are not—working and whether the program is making a difference. A successful evaluation depends on a...
Eliminating Disparities

This April 2013 article in Principal Leadership, written by OLN alliance researcher Vicki Nishioka, examines the research on disparities in exclusionary discipline policies and practices.
Eliminating Disparities in School Discipline–Evidence Blast

Discipline disparity is a growing problem in our schools. Disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions for students of color result in substantial loss of instructional time for these students.
Prevention of Bullying in Schools, Colleges, and Universities

Bullying presents one of the greatest health risks to children, youth, and young adults in U.S. society. It is pernicious in its impact even if often less visible and less readily identifiable than...
Tutoring Resources

A list of resources related to tutoring students in reading and more, including "Couldn't Put It Down! Captivating the Hearts and Minds of Adolescent Readers", "Motivating Reluctant Adolescent Readers", and "Learns Tutoring Videos".
Mentoring Resources

The following resources, developed by our National Mentoring Center project (1998-2012) can help school administrators and staff, as well as their community partners, design and implement effective...
Connecting Secondary Schools to Parents and Community

This January 2013 NASSP Principal’s Research Review , written by Education Northwest’s Diana Oxley, examines what the research says about the relationship between parent involvement and student achievement.
Facilitating Online Communities of Practice–Lessons Learned

There’s growing recognition that communities of practice—peer-to-peer learning groups—offer an effective way to work together on a common problem, share strategies, and deepen members’ knowledge...
Specialized Mentoring Models

In recent years, youth mentoring has diversified in the types of youth populations being served and the settings for the delivery of program services. These resources, developed by our National...
What are the Traits?

Learn about 6+1 Trait® Writing live and in person! Join us in June 2019 in Portland, Oregon for our latest institutes: Improving Student Writing for All Learners and 6+1 Trait Writing Leadership...
Recruiting and Retaining Rural Educators: Challenges and Strategies

This edition of NASSP's Principal’s Research Review , written by Education Northwest’s Rhonda Barton, explores both the difficulties and positive aspects of teaching in a rural community.
Youth Mentoring Program Planning and Design Resources

The following resources for planning, designing, and implementing a youth mentoring program were developed by our National Mentoring Center project. All are free to download. Please contact us if you...
The Impact of Professional Learning Communities

What truly characterizes a professional learning community? And, more important, How can PLCs improve teacher practice and student learning?
Washington Striving Readers Evaluation

In this report, Education Northwest researchers describe how it is possible to make a statistically significant difference in struggling readers’ achievement in just a single year.
Figuring Out Grade Configurations

In the May 2012 issue of NASSP's Principal's Research Review , the longtime topic of grade configuration is explored. The writers, Rhonda Barton and Jennifer Klump of Education Northwest, zero in on...
Meeting Oregon’s New High School Math Graduation Requirements: Examining Student Enrollment and Teacher Availability

Issues and Answers is an ongoing series of reports from short-term Fast Response Projects conducted by the regional educational laboratories on current education issues of importance at local, state...
Common Core State Standards Samples of Student Writing, Scored With a 6+1 Trait Rubric

This collection of K–12 student papers and the accompanying annotations come from Appendix C: Samples of Student Writing of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts &...
Leadership for Equity

This March 2012 NASSP Principal’s Research Review , written by Education Northwest’s Rhonda Barton and Rob Larson, looks at strategies for improving educational equity. With racial and economic...
Assessing Mathematical Understanding

Assessing Mathematical Understanding is a set of mathematics assessments for kindergarten and first-grade students that provides both cumulative data about students’ progress over time and in-depth...
Optimizing Support to Low-Performing Schools–Lessons Learned

State education agencies (SEAs) are required by federal policy to provide a statewide system of intensive and sustained support to Title I schools and districts identified as in need of improvement...
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A Closer Look at the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

An introductory module that will assist teachers, administrators, and leaders of kindergarten through high school in building an understanding of the Common Core State Standards for mathematics.
Spotlight on the Common Core State Standards–What Do District Administrators Need To Know?

A series published by Education Northwest to keep regional stakeholders informed about the Common Core initiative.
What Does Research Say About School District Consolidation?

The Ask A REL Reference Desk provides education stakeholders from the Northwest region with prompt, authoritative, and customized answers to research and policy questions. On a regular basis, we share our responses to questions from the field.
How Small Schools Grew Up and Got Serious (But Didn’t Lose Their Spunk)

“How Small Schools Grew Up and Got Serious (But Didn’t Lose Their Spunk)” is in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of Kappan Magazine. Written by Education Northwest’s high school redesign experts...
The Complexities of Integrating Data-Driven Decision Making into Professional Preparation in Schools of Education: It’s Harder Than You Think

Data-driven decision making has become a national education priority. But do educators have the capacity to understand the data and use them appropriately to make instructional improvements? What can...
Spotlight on the Common Core State Standards–What Do Parents Need To Know?

A series published by Education Northwest to keep regional stakeholders informed about the Common Core initiative.
Leveraging the Unique Features of Small, Rural Schools for Improvement–Lessons Learned

In the Northwest region, 39 percent of schools are rural, compared to 31 percent nationally. While rural schools face many of the same challenges as those in urban settings, they also have unique...
Spotlight on the Common Core State Standards–What Do Teachers Need To Know?

A series published by Education Northwest to keep regional stakeholders informed about the Common Core initiative.
Planning a School-Based Mentoring Program–Lessons Learned

School-based mentoring (SBM) is becoming increasingly popular as a way to help students in a number of academic and psychosocial domains. In this model, a K–12 student is paired with an adult from...
Lessons Learned

A series published by Education Northwest that distills and shares research and experience from the field. From Training Space to Any Place: Expanding Approaches to E-Learning Vol. 4, Issue 2 By...
Creating Schools That Support Success for ELLs: Lessons Learned

What can district leaders do to create schools that support success for English learners?
Choosing a School Turnaround Provider–Lessons Learned

The process of selecting a school turnaround provider can seem overwhelming, with so many choices and so little time and information. External and internal pressure to make the selection as quickly...
High School SLC and Small School Reform Efforts–Lessons Learned

Small learning community and small school reform efforts have begun to falter in light of evaluations showing stalled implementation and limited impacts. However, this Lessons Learned brief gives...
Read Right Evaluation

This report describes how students increased their reading comprehension after one semester of tutoring with Read Right, a nationally used intervention program that supplements regular English language arts instruction.
The Top Priority: Teacher Learning

When collaboration is embedded in teachers’ work and supported by leadership, meaningful professional learning and improved teaching follow. School redesign demands that practitioners make...
From High School to Learning Communities

This booklet summarizes research on best practices for implementing successful small learning communities and career academies. When well implemented, improvements in instructional and...
Improving the Quality and Use of Postsecondary Data

In response to the challenges of collecting data on post secondary outcomes, this guide helps high schools identify efficient and cost-effective strategies to find out what happens to their students...
Toward a Research Agenda for Understanding and Improving the Use of Research Evidence

Many researchers and research funders want their work to be influential in educational policy and practice, but there is little systematic understanding of how policymakers and practitioners use...
Youth Mentoring Evaluation Resources

Program evaluation is an increasingly important area of operations for all youth mentoring programs. These resources, developed by our National Mentoring Center project (1998-2012), can help youth...
Mentor/Mentee Training and Relationship Support Resources

The following resources, developed by our National Mentoring Center project (1998-2012), can help mentoring programs prepare both volunteer mentors and the youth they serve for their mentoring...
Mentor Recruitment and Screening Resources

The following resources on recruiting and screening volunteer mentors were been developed by our National Mentoring Center project (1998-2012). These resources can help any mentoring program recruit...
Learn-Ed Nations Inventory: A Tool for Improving Schools with American Indian and Alaska Native students

Developed by master American Indian and Alaska Native educators, the inventory is designed to determine how and to what extent your school is supporting the needs of Native students. Nine key school...
Afterschool/Out-of-School Time Resources

Building Inquiry Skills in Afterschool STEM and Beyond This webinar offers tips and examples for implementing youth-led inquiry, an approach to designing school-day instruction and afterschool...
Experimental Study on the Impact of the 6+1 Trait® Writing Model on Student Achievement in Writing

This report presents the results of a study that examined the efficacy of professional development for teachers using the 6+1 Trait Writing model with respect to improving student writing skills. To...
Mentoring Program Sustainability Resources

The following resources, developed by our National Mentoring Center project (1998-2012), can help youth mentoring programs in both school and community settings plan for a sustainable future. These...
Creating Instructional Program Coherence

This September 2008 issue of the NASSP Principal's Research Review discusses how and why schools that build a coherent instructional program through common frameworks for curriculum, instruction,...
Building Trusting Relationships for School Improvement: Implications for Principals and Teachers

This resource examines the issue of trust within the context of school improvement, looking specifically at teacher-teacher and teacher-principal relationships.
A Review of the Research Literature on the Influences of Culturally Based Education on the Academic Performance of Native American Students

One of the major tasks facing Native American communities is to create lifelong learning opportunities that allow all the members to improve their quality of life.