Free Online Publications

An Analysis of Utah's K-3 Reading Improvement Program

By: Reino Makkonen, Chun-Wei Huang, Paul Koehler

This report, prepared by REL West, finds that more districts and charter schools in Utah reported implementing key elements of the state literacy framework and meeting their own goals in Year 2 of the Reading Improvement Program.

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Format: PDF

California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL)

By: California School Leadership Academy

We know that quality leadership matters in improving schools, districts, and student achievement. But what is quality leadership? The California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, also known as the Comprehensive Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, lay out quality standards for site and district leaders. more >

Format: PDF

Career-Long Teacher Development: Policies That Make Sense

By: Joan McRobbie

"States must enact a system of teacher development anchored in agreed-upon expectations for what teachers should know and be able to do. Equally important, that system must encompass the entire teaching continuum, from recruitment through preparation, certification, induction, and the rest of the teacher's career."
—from the WestEd Knowledge Brief more >

Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2000

Order #: KN-00-03

  

The Distribution of Teaching and Learning Resources in California's Middle and High Schools

By: Miguel Socías, Jay Chambers, Phil Esra, Larisa Shambaugh

This report, prepared by REL West, presents findings from a study examining educational resources in California's middle and high schools. It found that access to these resources is not equal among schools that serve different student populations. Overall, the most disadvantaged populations of students are likely to have the least access to the resources necessary for learning. more >

Format: PDF

Education Partnerships: Strategies for Success

By: Danielle Briggs

"Many education partnerships form around a generalized mission, such as improving student achievement through better assessments or better use of technology. Success, however, requires greater precision in purpose."
—from the WestEd Knowledge Brief more >

Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2001

Order #: KN-01-02

  

English Learners and Literacy Education Solutions: 2009 Products and Service Catalog

For English learner and literacy education solutions, request our free catalog. You'll find valuable resources for professional development! more >

Format: Print | Copyright: 2009

Order #: CM-09-01

  

Ensuring Teacher Quality: A Continuum of Teacher Preparation and Development

"Research…indicates that dollars invested in teaching quality net larger student achievement gains than the same dollars invested in any other type of school resources."
—from the WestEd Policy Brief more >

Format: Print | Copyright: 2000

Order #: PO-00-05

  

Finding the Teachers We Need

By: Frederick M. Hess, Andrew J. Rotherham, Kate Walsh

Based on the recently published, A Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom? Appraising Old Answers and New Ideas, this Policy Perspectives paper lays out new approaches for ensuring high-quality teacher preparation.  more >

Format: Print | Copyright: 2005

Order #: PP-05-01

  

Formative Assessment Policies, Programs, and Practices in the Southwest Region

By: Carole Gallagher, Peter Worth

Formative assessments help educators target instructional practices to meet specific student needs and monitor and support student progress toward valued state learning outcomes. Policies and programs in the five Southwest Region states suggest a range of strategies to support the development and use of formative assessments. more >

Format: PDF

Great Expectations: The E3 Institute-San Jose State University Bachelor's Degree Cohort Program for CARES Participants in Santa Clara County

By: Yolanda Garcia, Ilene M. Hertz, Kara Dukakis

Learn how a partnership between WestEd's E3 Institute and San Jose State University is improving the quality of care and education for children and families. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008

Guidance for the Selection and Support of Exemplary Principals Under the Quality Education Investment Act

This document provides guidance for district leaders in selecting, assigning, and supporting exemplary principals for schools subject to the requirements of California's Quality Education Investment Act of 2006. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008

Keeping Quality Teachers: The Art of Retaining General and Special Education Teachers

This powerful, user-friendly tool provides school leaders with resources to address retention of quality teachers, especially those in special education.  more >

Price: $35.00 | Format: Binder | Copyright: 2005

Order #: LI-05-01

  

Leading in Difficult Times: Are Urban School Boards Up to the Task?

In a number of big cities, where politics, demographics, and the sheer size of the school district and its budget make the challenges of education improvement that much more complex, stakeholders are questioning the effectiveness of their school board. This brief outlines some current proposals for school board reform in large urban districts. more >

Format: Print | Copyright: 2003

Order #: PT-03-01

  

Literacy Instruction in the Content Areas: Getting to the Core of Middle and High School Improvement

By: Rafael Heller, Cynthia L. Greenleaf

This report urges higher expectations for all students in reading and writing, and new approach to improving these skills. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2007

More Swimming, Less Sinking: Perspectives on Teacher Induction in the U.S. and Abroad

By: Ted (Edward) Britton, Senta A. Raizen, Lynn Paine, Mary Ann Huntley

Format: Online | Copyright: 2000

A Multistate Review of Professional Teaching Standards

By: Melissa Eiler White, Reino Makkonen, Kari Becker Stewart

California is revising its state teaching standards. This report, developed by WestEd's REL West at the request of key education agencies in California, provides an overview of the teaching standards in six states, including Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas, purposefully selected to inform California’s revision process. more >

Format: PDF

Performance Expectations and Indicators for Education Leaders

By: Nancy M. Sanders, Karen Kearney

The Performance Expectations and Indicators, based on the six ISLLC Standards for School Leaders, describe observable and measurable leader actions required to improve teaching and learning for every student. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008

Profiles of Key National Teaching Standards

By: Melissa Eiler White, Reino Makkonen, Kari Becker Stewart

These profiles supplement the REL West report, A Multistate Review of Professional Teaching Standards (PDF). The two sets of national teaching standards described here have been particularly influential in the development of teaching standards at the state level — the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' (NBPTS) The Five Core Propositions and the Model Standards for Beginning Teacher Licensing, Assessment and Development: A Resource for State Dialogue, developed by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC). more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2009

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^® 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^® Vol. 10, No. 1

Focus on English Learners

Providing effective support for the nation's rapidly growing population of English learners has become a top priority of schools throughout the U.S. This R&D Alert samples from WestEd's wide-ranging expertise in this area. It describes the latest research-based practices and lessons learned, addresses issues of professional development, policy, and practice, and covers the needs of English learners from preschool through high school. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008

Order #: RD-08-02

  

R&D Alert^® Vol. 10, No. 2

Focus on Professional Development

Teacher quality is key to student success, and teachers need opportunities throughout their careers to continue learning and growing. This issue of R&D Alert focuses on professional development, with articles describing a variety of approaches to providing effective professional development, lessons learned from successful programs, and research on professional development. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2009

Order #: RD-09-01

  

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^® 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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^® 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