Research & Policy Center
Evidence-based practice requires access to current research and data. Our Research & Policy Center provides educators and administrators with comprehensive education statistics, federal program guides, and policy analysis to inform decision-making at every level.
Research & Policy Guides
| Guide | Description | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Education Statistics & Data | Comprehensive data on teacher workforce, student demographics, achievement trends, funding, and graduation rates | All educators; administrators; policy makers; researchers |
| Federal Education Programs | Guide to ESSA, Title I, IDEA, loan forgiveness, and major federal funding programs | Administrators; grant writers; policy-interested educators |
Key Research Organizations
| Organization | Focus | Website |
|---|---|---|
| National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) | Official federal education data and statistics | nces.ed.gov |
| Institute of Education Sciences (IES) | What Works Clearinghouse; education research funding | ies.ed.gov |
| RAND Corporation — Education | Policy research on schools, teachers, and student outcomes | rand.org/education |
| Learning Policy Institute | Research on equitable education, teaching, and learning policy | learningpolicyinstitute.org |
| Brookings Institution — Education | Education policy analysis and commentary | brookings.edu/topic/education |
| National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) | Economic research on education topics | nber.org |
| Education Trust | Equity-focused research and advocacy | edtrust.org |
| National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) | The Nation's Report Card: student achievement data | nationsreportcard.gov |
Understanding Evidence Ratings
When evaluating educational programs and practices, look for evidence ratings from respected organizations:
| Rating Source | Levels | What It Evaluates |
|---|---|---|
| What Works Clearinghouse (IES) | Meets Standards (With/Without Reservations), Does Not Meet Standards | Intervention research studies; rates study quality and effect sizes |
| ESSA Evidence Levels | Tier 1 (Strong), Tier 2 (Moderate), Tier 3 (Promising), Tier 4 (Demonstrates Rationale) | Programs and practices for use with federal funds; required for school improvement |
| Evidence for ESSA | Strong, Moderate, Promising | Programs specifically for K-12 use; accessible summaries of research findings |
How to Read Education Research
- Check the source: Peer-reviewed journals carry more weight than opinion pieces or advocacy reports
- Look at sample size: Larger, multi-site studies are more generalizable than single-classroom studies
- Understand effect sizes: Cohen's d of 0.20 = small, 0.50 = medium, 0.80 = large; Hattie's "hinge point" = 0.40
- Consider the design: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard; quasi-experimental designs are strong but not as rigorous
- Check for replication: Has the finding been replicated across different settings and populations?
- Be cautious of vendor-funded research: Studies funded by the product developer should be interpreted with healthy skepticism
Research Requests: Need data or research on a specific topic?
Contact our Research Team at research@educatornavigator.org.