How can ARRA Funds Be Wisely Applied? How Researchers Can Help

1. How can ARRA Funds Be Wisely Applied? How Researchers Can Help Fourth Annual IES Research Conference Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Maryland Suite June 8, 2009 5:00 – 6:30 pm Lou Cicchinelli, Ph.D. Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning

2. Guiding Principles Spend Quickly to Save and Create Jobs Ensure Transparency and Accountability Thoughtfully Invest One-time Funds Advance Effective Reforms

3. Advance Core Education ReformsAssurances Needed

4. Stimulus Allocation Approximately $100 billion total State Fiscal Stabilization $53.6 billion Title I$13 billion Teacher, Tech, & Data$1.2 billion Pell and Work Study$17.3 billion Other$13.05 billion

5. Stimulus Education Programs

6. Best Bets for Research and Evaluation Opportunities

7. Incentive grants to states and groups of states that have shown progress in the 4 Core Education Reforms areas • Reward innovation and change • Support the next steps

8. Invest in What Works and Innovation Fund$650 million • Awards to LEAs & non-profits that have made significant gains in closing achievement gaps • To expand their work in partnership with private organizations & philanthropic community • By identifying & documenting best practices that can serve as models for best practices and taken to scale

9. Teacher Quality Enhancement$100 million • Grants to non-profits & IHEs • Improve teacher preparation & professional development activities • Hold teacher preparation programs accountable • Recruit highly qualified individuals into teaching force

10. Grants to non-profits & IHEs • Develop and implement performance-based teacher & principal compensation systems in high-need schools Teacher Incentive Fund$200 million

11. Statewide Data Systems $250 million • Grants to SEAs • Design, develop, and implement statewide, longitudinal data systems to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, disaggregate and use individual student data

12. Grants to SEAs • Improve student academic achievement through the use of technology • Help students become technologically literate by the end of eighth grade • Encourage the effective integration of technology with teacher training & curriculum development Ed Technology State Grants$650 million

13. World Café ProcessA Conversational Process • An innovative yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter. • Conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups,

14. The Café Process • Assign a table facilitator/recorder • Share thoughts, questions; doodle freely • After 15 minutes move to another table • Facilitator summarizes key conversation points to restart the conversation • After 15 minute move to 3rd and final table conversation • Facilitator summarizes to restart conversation • Choose a key point to share with entire group

15. Researcher Roles Possible Research & Evaluation Efforts • Background information • How is the program going • What have we learned from the program/ • intervention • What we can take forward or generalize

16. Action Steps Getting Involved • Identify programs of interest • Identify eligible partner organizations • Assess your capacities • Initiate conversations ASAP • Define roles and scope of work • Prepare and submit proposals

17. Discussion QuestionAt Your Tables What can researchers do to participate in ARRA and how do we become involved?

18. Share with the Group? • Insight • Question • Comment

19. Department of Education ARRA Resources • http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content%2Fprogram-plan&program_id=5452 • http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/ index.html

20. Lou Cicchinelli 303.632.5509 Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning Matt Dawson 630.649.6500Learning Point Associates Catherine Walcott 415.615.3184 WestEd Grant partner