Evidence Based Research Brochure

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tiers Evidence-based interventions are practices or programs that have evidence to show that they are effective at producing results and improving outcomes when implemented. The kind of evidence described in ESSA has generally been produced through formal studies and research. Under ESSA, there are four tiers of evidence: Tier 1 – Strong Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented randomized control experimental studies. Tier 2 – Moderate Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental studies. Tier 3 – Promising Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented correlational studies (with statistical controls for selection bias). Tier 4 – Demonstrates a Rationale: practices that have a well-defined logic model or theory of action, are supported by research, and have some effort underway by an SEA, LEA, or outside research organization to determine their effectiveness. Moving with Math Meets ESSA Tier 2 Criteria Research Background The District of Columbia Public School’s (DCPS) Office of Categorical Programs and Development contracted with The George Washington University Center for Equity and Excellence in Education (GWU/CEEE) to undertake an evaluation of Saturday STARS (Students and Teachers Achieving Results and Success) program. The STARS program was developed in an effort to promote accountability and end social promotion in the District’s schools. Students were in grades 1-12. The report focuses on students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 because these are the grades in which critical promotion decisions are made. The goals of the DCPS Saturday STARS program were: • To provide a supplemental program in the District of Columbia for students in grades 1 through 12 to increase student achievement and skills in reading and mathematics. • To measure student progress by using assessments that are linked to the STARS curricula and an external assessment, the SAT-9. • To increase the percentage of students eligible for promotion, particularly those in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11, who scored Below Basic in reading and mathematics on the SAT-9 during the regular school year and who would not otherwise be eligible for promotion. • To increase the number of students who will be eligible to graduate high school the following June. • To provide professional development for teachers in the instructional methods and materials used in the STARS program. The program was 30 Saturdays between October and May with 2 hours devoted to reading and 2 hours to math per day. Students required to attend Saturday STARS were those who: • Scored Basic or lower on the SAT-9 • Repeated the current grade, and • Received a deficiency or failing grade during the first advisory period. Moving with Math ® Extensions was the math program chosen for Grades 1-8. Following are results from the research Executive Summary. A complete copy of the report is available online at: www.movingwithmath.com/learning-system/scientifically-based-research-and-results/