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IES Publishes our Recent REL Southwest Teacher Studies

The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences published two reports of studies we conducted for REL Southwest! We are thankful for the support and engagement we received from the Educator Effectiveness Research Alliance and the Oklahoma Rural Schools Research Alliance throughout the studies. The collaboration with the research alliances and educators aligns well with what we set out to do in our core mission: to support K-12 systems and empower educators in making evidence-based decisions.

The first study was published earlier this month and identified factors associated with successful recruitment and retention of teachers in Oklahoma rural school districts, in order to highlight potential strategies to address Oklahoma’s teaching shortage. This correlational study covered a 10-year period (the 2005-06 to 2014-15 school years) and used data from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, federal non-education sources, and publicly available geographic information systems from Google Maps. The study found that teachers who are male, those who have higher postsecondary degrees, and those who have more teaching experience are harder than others to recruit and retain in Oklahoma schools. In addition, for teachers in rural districts, higher total compensation and increased responsibilities in job assignment are positively associated with successful recruitment and retention. In order to provide context, the study also examined patterns of teacher job mobility between rural and non-rural school districts. The rate of teachers in Oklahoma rural schools reaching tenure is slightly lower than the rates for teachers in non-rural areas. Also, rural school districts in Oklahoma had consistently lower rates of success in recruiting teachers than non-rural school districts from 2006-07 to 2011-12.

This most recent study, published last week, examined data from the 2014-15 pilot implementation of the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). In 2014-15 the Texas Education Agency piloted the T-TESS in 57 school districts. During the pilot year teacher overall ratings were based solely on rubric ratings on 16 dimensions across four domains.

The study examined the statistical properties of the T-TESS rubric to explore the extent to which it differentiates teachers on teaching quality and to investigate its internal consistency and efficiency. It also explored whether certain types of schools have teachers with higher or lower ratings. Using data from the pilot for more than 8,000 teachers, the study found that the rubric differentiates teacher effectiveness at the overall, domain, and dimension levels; domain and dimension ratings on the observation rubric are internally consistent; and the observation rubric is efficient, with each dimension making a unique contribution to a teacher’s overall rating. In addition, findings indicated that T-TESS rubric ratings varied slightly in relation to some school characteristics that were examined, such as socioeconomic status and percentage of English Language Learners. However, there is little indication that these characteristics introduced bias in the evaluators’ ratings.

2017-10-30

National Forum to Advance Rural Education 2017


We are participating in 2 discussions at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education, organized by Battelle for Kids on Thursday, October 12, 2017.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 1:15–2:15pm
Quality Teachers in Rural Schools: Lessons Learned in Oklahoma
Join a discussion with the Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest (REL Southwest) and practitioners in the Oklahoma Rural Schools Research Alliance about their research focused on two areas of high need in rural schools: teacher recruitment and retention, and professional development. This informal discussion with the researchers and Oklahoma practitioners will focus on how you can use the information from these studies in your own state and school district.
Presenters:
Pia Peltola (REL Southwest, American Institutes for Research)
Susan Pinson (Oklahoma State Department of Education)
Kathren Stehno (Office of Educational Quality & Accountability)
Megan Toby (Empirical Education)
Haidee Williams (REL Southwest, American Institutes for Research)

Rosa Ailbouni Room, Third Floor

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 2:30–3pm
Recruiting and Retaining Quality Teachers in Oklahoma
Learn about research conducted in partnership with the Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest (REL Southwest) and practitioners in the Oklahoma Rural Schools Research Alliance. The research identified teacher, district, and community characteristics that are predictors of successful teacher recruitment and retention in rural Oklahoma which can inform future policy and practice. Join the researchers and alliance members who guided the research and discover how you can use the information in your school district.
Presenters:
Kathren Stehno (Office of Educational Quality & Accountability)
Megan Toby (Empirical Education)
Haidee Williams (REL Southwest, American Institutes for Research)

Great Hall Meeting Room 2, First Floor


2017-10-04

Upcoming REL-SW Workshop Event

On November 19th, Erica Plut and Jenna Zacamy will join REL Southwest Alliance Liaison Haidee Williams in facilitating a workshop on Identifying Practices to Engage Native American Indian Families in Students’ Academic and Career Aspirations. The workshop is being offered to the Oklahoma Rural School Research Alliance members and their colleagues and will take place in Norman, Oklahoma. The goals of the workshop are:

  1. To increase alliance members’ knowledge and understanding of the research literature addressing promising practices to engage Native American Indian families in students’ academic and career aspirations
  2. To provide an opportunity to use the research literature to inform the refinement or development of family and community engagement programs or initiatives that are focused on students’ academic and career aspirations

You can find more information about this event on the IES website.

2015-11-11
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