In the realm of education, making informed decisions about instructional practices and programs is crucial for student success. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is an invaluable resource that provides educators, policymakers, and researchers with a comprehensive and rigorous collection of evidence-based research on educational interventions.
With its user-friendly interface and extensive database, the WWC has become a leading source of information for anyone seeking evidence-based guidance on effective educational practices. Established by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the U.S. Department of Education, the WWC offers a wealth of resources to empower decision-makers in improving educational outcomes for all students.
Delve deeper into the What Works Clearinghouse and discover the wide range of resources it offers to inform and empower the education community. Explore the WWC's rigorous review process, comprehensive database, and user-friendly resources designed to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in education.
what works clearinghouse
Rigorous evidence-based research for education.
- Independent, non-partisan reviews
- Focus on student achievement
- Wide range of intervention types
- Easy-to-understand summaries
- Resources and tools for educators
- Commitment to quality and transparency
- Influence on education policy and practice
The What Works Clearinghouse is an essential resource for anyone seeking to make informed decisions about educational practice.
Independent, non-partisan reviews
At the heart of the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is its commitment to providing independent, non-partisan reviews of educational interventions. This means that the WWC's findings are not influenced by political or commercial interests, ensuring the objectivity and integrity of the research.
The WWC's rigorous review process is conducted by independent experts who are not affiliated with the interventions being reviewed. These experts evaluate the research evidence according to strict standards to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. The WWC's reviews are widely respected for their methodological rigor and transparency.
By providing independent, non-partisan reviews, the WWC helps educators, policymakers, and researchers make informed decisions about educational interventions that are likely to be effective. This contributes to improved educational outcomes for all students.
Here are some specific examples of how the WWC's independent, non-partisan reviews have influenced education policy and practice:
- The WWC's review of early childhood education programs found that high-quality preschool programs can improve children's cognitive and social skills, leading to better outcomes in school and beyond.
- The WWC's review of math interventions found that programs that focus on developing students' conceptual understanding of math are more effective than those that focus on rote memorization.
- The WWC's review of reading interventions found that programs that provide explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency are effective in improving reading skills.
These are just a few examples of the many ways in which the WWC's independent, non-partisan reviews have informed educational practice and improved outcomes for students.
Focus on student achievement
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is solely focused on identifying and disseminating educational interventions that have been shown to improve student achievement. This means that the WWC only reviews interventions that have been rigorously evaluated and found to be effective in raising student outcomes.
- Research-based evidence:
The WWC only reviews interventions that are supported by strong research evidence. This means that the interventions have been evaluated in well-designed studies that show they can improve student achievement.
- Focus on underserved students:
The WWC is particularly interested in identifying interventions that are effective for underserved students, such as students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and students who are English language learners.
- Practical and feasible interventions:
The WWC also considers the practicality and feasibility of interventions when making its recommendations. The WWC recognizes that interventions that are difficult or expensive to implement are less likely to be widely adopted and have a positive impact on student achievement.
- Dissemination of findings:
The WWC actively disseminates its findings to educators, policymakers, and researchers through a variety of channels, including its website, publications, and presentations. The WWC also works with states and districts to help them implement evidence-based interventions that are likely to improve student achievement.
The WWC's focus on student achievement is evident in all aspects of its work. By identifying and disseminating evidence-based interventions, the WWC helps to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed.
Wide range of intervention types
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews a wide range of intervention types, including:
- Academic interventions:
These interventions are designed to improve students' academic skills in areas such as reading, math, science, and writing.
- Behavioral interventions:
These interventions are designed to improve students' behavior and social skills, such as reducing disruptive behavior and improving attention and focus.
- College and career readiness interventions:
These interventions are designed to help students prepare for college, career, and life after high school.
- Early childhood education interventions:
These interventions are designed to improve the development and learning of young children, from birth to age 5.
Within each of these broad categories, the WWC reviews a variety of specific interventions, such as:
- Reading interventions:
These interventions include programs that teach students phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension.
- Math interventions:
These interventions include programs that teach students number sense, operations, and algebraic thinking.
- Science interventions:
These interventions include programs that teach students about the natural world and how it works.
- Writing interventions:
These interventions include programs that teach students how to write different types of texts, such as essays, stories, and poems.
The WWC's wide range of intervention types ensures that educators, policymakers, and researchers can find evidence-based interventions to address a variety of student needs.
Easy-to-understand summaries
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is committed to making its research findings accessible to a wide range of audiences, including educators, policymakers, researchers, and parents. To this end, the WWC produces easy-to-understand summaries of its research findings.
These summaries are written in clear and concise language, avoiding jargon and technical terms. They provide a brief overview of the intervention being reviewed, the research evidence on its effectiveness, and the implications for practice. The summaries also include links to the full research reports for those who want to learn more.
The WWC's easy-to-understand summaries are an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to make informed decisions about educational interventions. They provide a quick and easy way to get the information you need to improve student achievement.
Here are some specific examples of how the WWC's easy-to-understand summaries have been used to improve educational practice:
- A school district in California used the WWC's summaries to identify evidence-based reading interventions for struggling readers. The district implemented these interventions and saw a significant improvement in reading scores.
- A state education agency used the WWC's summaries to develop a list of approved math interventions for use in schools across the state. This helped to ensure that all students had access to high-quality math instruction.
- A non-profit organization used the WWC's summaries to create a website that provides parents with information about evidence-based interventions for children with disabilities. This website has helped parents to advocate for their children's educational needs.
These are just a few examples of the many ways in which the WWC's easy-to-understand summaries are being used to improve educational practice and outcomes for all students.
Resources and tools for educators
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) offers a variety of resources and tools to help educators find and use evidence-based interventions in their classrooms. These resources include:
- Practice Guides:
The WWC's Practice Guides provide comprehensive guidance on how to implement evidence-based interventions in the classroom. The guides include step-by-step instructions, downloadable resources, and links to professional development opportunities.
- Intervention Reports:
The WWC's Intervention Reports provide detailed information on the research evidence for specific interventions. The reports include information on the intervention's effectiveness, cost, and implementation requirements.
- Tools for Decision Making:
The WWC's Tools for Decision Making help educators select evidence-based interventions that are appropriate for their students' needs. The tools include decision-making frameworks, checklists, and rubrics.
- Professional Development:
The WWC offers professional development opportunities to help educators learn about evidence-based interventions and how to implement them in the classroom. These opportunities include workshops, webinars, and online courses.
The WWC's resources and tools are designed to help educators make informed decisions about educational interventions and improve student achievement. These resources are available free of charge on the WWC's website.
Commitment to quality and transparency
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is committed to quality and transparency in all aspects of its work. This commitment is reflected in the following practices:
- Rigorous review process:
The WWC's review process is rigorous and transparent. All interventions are reviewed by independent experts who are not affiliated with the interventions being reviewed. The experts use strict standards to evaluate the research evidence and determine the effectiveness of the interventions.
- Publicly available reports:
The WWC's research reports are publicly available on its website. This allows anyone to access the evidence and make their own judgments about the effectiveness of the interventions.
- Clear and concise summaries:
The WWC's easy-to-understand summaries provide a clear and concise overview of the research findings. This makes it easy for educators, policymakers, and parents to understand the evidence and make informed decisions about educational interventions.
- Continuous improvement:
The WWC is committed to continuous improvement. The WWC regularly reviews its review process and makes changes to ensure that it is using the latest research methods and standards.
The WWC's commitment to quality and transparency has made it a trusted source of information on evidence-based interventions. Educators, policymakers, and parents can be confident that the WWC's findings are accurate and reliable.
Influence on education policy and practice
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has had a significant influence on education policy and practice at the national, state, and local levels. This influence is due to the WWC's commitment to providing high-quality, independent, and transparent reviews of educational interventions.
- National policy:
The WWC's findings have been used to inform federal education policy, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA requires states to use evidence-based interventions in their schools. The WWC's reviews have also been used to develop national standards for teacher preparation and professional development.
- State and local policy:
Many states and districts have adopted policies that require schools to use evidence-based interventions. These policies have been based on the WWC's findings. The WWC's reviews have also been used to develop state and local standards for curriculum and instruction.
- School practice:
Educators across the country are using the WWC's findings to make informed decisions about educational interventions. The WWC's reviews have helped educators to identify interventions that are likely to be effective in improving student achievement. The WWC's resources and tools have also helped educators to implement evidence-based interventions in their classrooms.
- Research and development:
The WWC's findings have also influenced research and development in the field of education. Researchers are using the WWC's findings to develop new and more effective educational interventions. The WWC's findings are also being used to improve the quality of existing interventions.
The WWC's influence on education policy and practice is a testament to the value of its work. The WWC's findings are helping to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed.
FAQ
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and parents who are seeking evidence-based information on educational interventions. The WWC's website includes a comprehensive FAQ section that answers common questions about the WWC and its work.
Question 1: What is the What Works Clearinghouse?
Answer 1: The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a non-partisan organization that reviews the research evidence on educational interventions to determine their effectiveness.
Question 2: What types of interventions does the WWC review?
Answer 2: The WWC reviews a wide range of interventions, including academic interventions, behavioral interventions, college and career readiness interventions, and early childhood education interventions.
Question 3: How does the WWC review interventions?
Answer 3: The WWC's review process is rigorous and transparent. All interventions are reviewed by independent experts who use strict standards to evaluate the research evidence.
Question 4: What are the WWC's standards for effectiveness?
Answer 4: The WWC has four levels of effectiveness: Strong Evidence, Moderate Evidence, Promising Evidence, and No Evidence.
Question 5: How can I find information on the WWC's website?
Answer 5: The WWC's website is easy to navigate. You can search for interventions by keyword, topic, or grade level. You can also browse the WWC's collection of resources and tools.
Question 6: How can I use the WWC's findings in my work?
Answer 6: The WWC's findings can be used to inform decisions about educational policy and practice. Educators can use the WWC's findings to select evidence-based interventions for their students. Policymakers can use the WWC's findings to develop policies that support the use of evidence-based interventions.
Question 7: How can I stay up-to-date on the WWC's latest findings?
Answer 7: You can stay up-to-date on the WWC's latest findings by signing up for the WWC's newsletter or following the WWC on social media.
The WWC's FAQ section is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the WWC and its work. The WWC's findings can be used to improve educational outcomes for all students.
In addition to the FAQ section, the WWC's website also includes a section with tips for using the WWC's findings. These tips can help educators, policymakers, and parents make the most of the WWC's resources.
Tips
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and parents who are seeking evidence-based information on educational interventions. The WWC's website includes a section with tips for using the WWC's findings. These tips can help you make the most of the WWC's resources.
Tip 1: Start with a clear question.
Before you start searching the WWC's website, take some time to think about what you are looking for. What specific question do you have about educational interventions? Once you have a clear question in mind, you can use the WWC's search tool to find relevant information.
Tip 2: Use the WWC's filters to narrow your search.
The WWC's website includes a variety of filters that you can use to narrow your search results. These filters include intervention type, topic, grade level, and effectiveness rating. Using the filters can help you find the information you are looking for more quickly and easily.
Tip 3: Read the WWC's intervention reports.
The WWC's intervention reports provide detailed information on the research evidence for specific interventions. These reports include information on the intervention's effectiveness, cost, and implementation requirements. Reading the intervention reports can help you make informed decisions about which interventions to use in your work.
Tip 4: Use the WWC's resources and tools.
The WWC offers a variety of resources and tools to help you use its findings in your work. These resources include practice guides, decision-making tools, and professional development opportunities. Using the WWC's resources and tools can help you improve your understanding of evidence-based interventions and how to implement them effectively.
The WWC's tips can help you make the most of the WWC's resources. By following these tips, you can find the information you need to make informed decisions about educational interventions.
The WWC is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve educational outcomes for all students. By using the WWC's findings and resources, you can make informed decisions about educational interventions that are likely to be effective.
Conclusion
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve educational outcomes for all students. The WWC provides independent, non-partisan reviews of educational interventions to help educators, policymakers, and parents make informed decisions about which interventions to use.
The WWC's research has shown that some interventions are more effective than others in improving student achievement. For example, the WWC has found that high-quality preschool programs can improve children's cognitive and social skills, leading to better outcomes in school and beyond. The WWC has also found that math interventions that focus on developing students' conceptual understanding of math are more effective than those that focus on rote memorization.
The WWC's findings have been used to inform education policy and practice at the national, state, and local levels. The WWC's work has helped to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed.
If you are an educator, a policymaker, or a parent, I encourage you to use the WWC's resources to learn more about evidence-based interventions. The WWC's findings can help you make informed decisions about which interventions to use in your work or for your child.
By working together, we can ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.