Contact us: www.mcrel.org | info@mcrel.org
July 2015
Research Roundup

Mapping State Proficiency Standards Onto NAEP Scales: Results from the 2013 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Assessments  

National Center for Education Statistics

A new report from the National Center for Education Statistics compares 4th and 8th grade students' performance on the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) with their performance on their own state tests in 2013, finding that definitions of proficiency continue to vary state by state; what one state might consider proficient might be significantly higher or lower than another state or the NAEP.

Why many students with A's in math don't major in it 

The Hechinger Report
  
A recent study, in which more than 9,000 college calculus students were surveyed, reveals that public recognition for math abilities and interest in math play a larger role in a student becoming a "math person" than do the student's math abilities or grades.

Study: Smartphones without directed learning activities may be detrimental to learning 

THE Journal
  
A yearlong study on technology by the National Science Foundation reveals that first-time smartphone users at the university level who were not given directed learning activities related to smartphone use found the phones to be a distraction from learning.
Events and Opportunities

Destination Denver: McREL's summer professional development

 

Our summer professional development is underway in Denver! We're still accepting registrations for our remaining workshops and institutes. Gain insights and learn best-practice strategies you can apply right away. You'll leave knowing how to make changes in teaching, leading, and learning that result in better outcomes.

 

Bring your colleagues: Groups of three or more people from the same district receive a 10% discount on registration.

 

Classroom Instruction That Works with English-Language Learners 

July 27-28

Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works 

July 29-30

 

Upcoming conferences

 

Visit with our researchers and consultants at the following conferences to hear the latest insights and discoveries we've made:


Alabama Department of Education MEGA Summer Conference in Mobile, Ala., July 22-24

 

Pacific Education Conference in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, July 28-31

 

Colorado Association of School Executives Conference in Breckenridge, Colo., July 29-31

 

Nebraska Administrators' Days in Kearney, Neb. July 29-31

Perspectives

 

Headlines

Introducing the McREL Solutions Portal: Your toolkit for in-house professional development

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the McREL Solutions Portal, a comprehensive online library of resources designed to help professional development leaders enhance workshops and meetings held in their school districts.

 

For decades, McREL has created a wealth of research-based materials that help teachers and leaders hone their professional practice and support higher levels of student growth. Until now, these materials have been available only through our consultants working directly with client districts. The Solutions Portal now gives district staff direct access to these materials-including training materials, presentations, videos, activity and planning guides, and much more. The materials address a wide scope of subjects, from research-based instructional strategies and leadership development to educational technology, formative assessment, and math and science education.

 

Access to materials on the Portal is tiered. Some materials are accessible to anyone visiting the site, but complete access to the entire library of resources requires an annual subscription. New resources will be added continually to the Portal.

 

The Portal supplements McREL's direct service to districts. McREL's skilled education consultants continue to provide client schools and districts with strategic consulting and onsite training and support.

BrightBytes partners with McREL to release Leadership module

 

BrightBytes, an award-winning educational research and analysis organization, is pleased to announce the addition of a Leadership module to its Clarity platform. Created in partnership with McREL, the Leadership module empowers educational organizations to grow and develop exceptional leaders and track the progress of their improvement initiatives.

 

The Leadership module is based on McREL's research and training program on the school-level and district-level leadership practices that have the largest impact on student outcomes. The module provides personalized, actionable next steps for leadership teams based on data collected from staff regarding their perceptions of purposeful community, managing change, and focus of leadership.

 

BrightBytes' Clarity platform has a variety of solutions that help educational leaders make better, data-driven decisions for student learning. Each module on the platform gives schools, districts, and states very specific next steps on how to use their strengths to address gaps, enabling them to prioritize learning initiatives and allocate investments for maximum impact.

 

Read our complete press release. 
In This Issue
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REL Pacific on Twitter 
 

Follow @RELPacific on Twitter for the latest on education research, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, and Institute of Education Sciences projects in the Pacific region, plus engaging infographics, videos, and more.

 

North Central Comprehensive Center on Twitter

 

Follow @NorthCentralCC on Twitter for updates on work with state education agencies in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

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