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R&D Alert®
Published twice-yearly, R&D Alert® is WestEd's award-winning newsletter covering issues affecting schools, communities, and human development professionals throughout the United States.
R&D Alert® Vol. 9, No. 2
Focus on Education Research
Research has become more central than ever to how decisions are made about education policy and practice. As an agency committed to evidence-based practices, WestEd engages in a wide range of research and seeks to translate research knowledge into effective policy and practice. This issue of R&D Alert begins with a Q&A on the growing importance of education research and includes articles describing examples of WestEd-led research. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008
Order #: RD-08-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 9, No. 1
Focus on Improving Mathematics and Science Education
Concerned with the quality of the nation's mathematicians, scientists, and engineers, the federal government in 2007 created the "America COMPETES Act," authorizing programs to shore up education and research in these subjects. Building on WestEd's extensive expertise in mathematics and science, this issue of R&D Alert describes strategies and lessons learned from some of WestEd's most successful efforts in these areas. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2007
Order #: RD-07-02
R&D Alert® Vol. 8, No. 2
Focus on Turning Around Low-Performing Schools and Districts
Under the federal No Child Left Behind act and numerous state initiatives, the number of schools and districts identified as low-performing has grown enormously, often outpacing efforts to address their needs. This issue of R&D Alert describes resources, strategies, and research findings that offer promise for making a difference in these academically troubled schools and districts. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2007
Order #: RD-07-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 8, No. 1
Focus on Using Data to Drive Reform
This issue of R&D Alert focuses on a perennial challenge in education and human development: how to make the most of information, whether test results, research findings, or other data. What happens with all the data generated by testing students? How do we ensure that the information is accurate, relevant, and timely? How do the results translate into improvements in practice? more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2006
Order #: RD-06-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 7, No. 3
Focus on Early Childhood Education
While the importance of early childhood education has long been recognized, traditional ideas of "school readiness" may be outdated. The first years of life do not simply set the stage for school — they are uniquely important in their own right. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2005
Order #: RD-05-03
R&D Alert® Vol. 7, No. 2
Focus on Teacher Quality
The federal No Child Left Behind act requires states to have highly qualified teachers in every classroom. This issue of R&D Alert draws on WestEd's work to offer solutions for recruiting new teachers, retaining highly qualified teachers, and improving teacher quality through professional development. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2005
Order #: RD-05-02
R&D Alert® Vol. 7, No. 1
Focus on Secondary Schools
Calls for improving our nation's secondary schools are increasing. From government initiatives to media attention to new research efforts, the focus on middle and high school reform is intensifying. This issue of R&D Alert draws on WestEd's work in this area to offer solutions for improving literacy in secondary schools, developing effective small schools, and better preparing underserved high school students for success in post-secondary education and beyond. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2005
Order #: RD-05-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 6, No. 3
Focus on English Learners
Getting a good education can be especially challenging for children who started life learning one language at home and now must learn from teachers and texts using a different one. This issue of WestEd's R&D Alert newsletter offers information on the challenges and opportunities of educating English learners from preschool through high school. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2004
Order #: RD-04-03
R&D Alert® Vol. 6, No. 2
Focus on Improving Mathematics and Science Education
The importance of mathematics and science literacy continues to grow in our knowledge-based, global economy. This issue of R&D Alert shares lessons learned from a sample of WestEd's work to strengthen mathematics and science education. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2004
Order #: RD-04-02
R&D Alert® Vol. 6, No. 1
Focus on Special Education
In light of increased national attention to special education, this issue of R&D Alert draws on WestEd's expertise in this area to address topics related to the intersections of special and general education. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2004
Order #: RD-04-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 5, No. 3
Focus on Accountability
Accountability can help drive efforts to continually improve learning opportunities for all students. The articles in this issue of R&D Alert discuss what is involved in designing and effectively carrying out accountability systems that play a positive role in education. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2003
Order #: RD-03-03
R&D Alert® Vol. 5, No. 2
Focus on Youth Development and Resiliency
Improving the lives of children means much more than improving schools. This issue of R&D Alert shares new research illustrating how youth development and learning are complementary processes. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2003
Order #: RD-03-02
R&D Alert® Vol. 5, No. 1
Focus on Ensuring Equity for All Students
Educators and researchers know more than ever about how children learn and what it takes for schools to succeed. Yet, not all children benefit equally from our education system. This issue of R&D Alert addresses the achievement gap, equity concerns in special education and science education, and other equity issues. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2003
Order #: RD-03-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 4, No. 3
Focus on Leadership Development and Support
As schools and districts face new and increasing challenges, effective leadership is needed more than ever. This issue of R&D Alert shares a sampling of WestEd's work in the area of leadership, including articles on teacher leaders, professional development for superintendents, and developing leadership throughout an entire district. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2003
Order #: RD-02-03
R&D Alert® Vol. 4, No. 2
Focus on Beginning Teachers
Beginning teachers need guidance and support in order to become the most effective and skillful classroom leaders they can be -- to provide the high-quality education students deserve. This issue of R&D Alert shares lessons from WestEd's work in supporting and guiding new teachers. Articles focus on a study of induction programs in several other countries, successful initiatives in the U.S., mentoring and classroom-based professional development, and support for new teachers of English language learners. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2002
Order #: RD-02-02
R&D Alert® Vol. 4, No. 1
Focus on the Teaching and Learning of Reading
For accomplished readers, the task of drawing meaning from text may seem transparent. But for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, the question of how best to help children develop this ability has been the subject of long-standing controversy. The teaching and learning of reading -- a fundamental concern to those of us interested in healthy human development and education -- is the focus of this issue of R&D Alert. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2002
Order #: RD-02-01
R&D Alert® Vol. 3, No. 3
Focus on Assessment for Education Improvement
This issue of R&D Alert provides a sampling of what WestEd has been learning related to assessment. Articles focus on: assessment as an important tool in the professional development of educators; classroom-based science assessments; ensuring that assessments are appropriate for students whose cultural backgrounds differ from the mainstream; assessing the well-being of youth and families in newly immigrant populations; and state and district policies to ensure the appropriate participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessment systems. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: RD-01-03
R&D Alert® Vol. 3, No. 2
Focus on Help for Low-Performing Schools
WestEd has worked extensively over the years to understand and overcome the challenges of "low-performing schools." Our work includes direct services and research both in and out of school settings to increase the education opportunities for all children. And we develop resources and research to help policymakers better support schools and communities. This issue of R&D Alert includes a sampling of what we have learned from our work in these areas. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: RD-01-02
R&D Alert® Winter 2001
Focus on Evaluation Research
This R&D Alert highlights some of the lessons learned from WestEd's efforts in evaluation. At the core of this work is a commitment to helping schools, districts, community organizations, and other agencies understand whether a program is doing what it was intended to do, whether it was implemented properly, and how it could be improved. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: RD-01-01
R&D Alert® Fall 2000
Focus on Leadership and Administration
Leadership requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. Investing in our leaders is critical to achieving the right outcomes for kids. This issue of R&D Alert highlights knowledge from several WestEd initiatives directed at developing effective leadership. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: RD-00-03
R&D Alert® Spring 2000
Focus on Community
This issue of WestEd's newsletter focuses on community-based work -- collaborations among community organizations, parents and other caregivers, schools, and public agencies involved in a local community -- to improve the lives of the children and adults who live there. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: RD-00-02
R&D Alert® Winter 2000
Focus on Mathematics and Science
At WestEd we continuously examine the latest research about how teachers can more effectively present complex mathematics and science material, how districts and states can design and implement the best assessment strategies, and how policymakers can make informed decisions. This issue of R&D Alert highlights some of our knowledge and work in mathematics and science. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: RD-00-01
R&D Alert® Fall/Winter 1999
Focus on Early Childhood
This issue of R&D Alert highlights some of the work and knowledge generated by WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies. At the core of the Center's work is a commitment to early intervention and a focus on innovative, proven training for the adults who care for young children. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 1999
Order #: RD-99-03
R&D Alert® Summer 1999
Focus on Literacy
This issue of R&D Alert highlights a number of reading initiatives -- both school-based and after-school -- that are underway at WestEd. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 1999
Order #: RD-99-02
R&D Alert® Spring 1999
Focus on Assessment
Reacting to voter sentiment and encouraged by the media, federal and state politicians are demanding that educators and students be held accountable for academic performance. To ensure that accountability, policymakers are exploring various assessment tools. At WestEd, our assessment work focuses on many of the tough issues inherent in widespread efforts to hold people accountable for their performance. This inaugural issue of R&D Alert highlights some of these related to standards and assessment. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 1999
Order #: RD-99-01