Evaluation of the Toolkit to
Support Evidence-Based Algebra Instruction in Middle and High
School - Recruitment Activities
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
09/12/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
30
0
30
0
0
0
The current authorization for the
Regional Educational Laboratories (REL) program is under the
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Part D, Section 174, (20
U.S.C. 9564), administered by the Department of Education,
Institute of Education Sciences (IES), National Center for
Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE). The central
mission and primary function of the RELs is to support applied
research and provide technical assistance to state and local
education agencies within their region (ESRA, Part D, section
174[f]). The REL program's goal is to partner with educators and
policymakers to conduct work that is change-oriented and supports
meaningful local, regional, or state decisions about education
policies, programs, and practices to improve outcomes for students.
IES requests clearance for activities to support the recruitment of
school districts to participate in an efficacy study of a Toolkit
to Support Evidence-Based Algebra Instruction in Middle and High
School as part of the REL Central contract. A second OMB package,
which will be submitted later this year, will request clearance for
data collection instruments and the collection of district
administrative data. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Algebra I
proved challenging for many students because of the extensive
abstract thinking it requires (Katz, 2007; Susa et al., 2014). To
help students succeed in Algebra I, REL Central is developing a
toolkit of professional learning supports to help Algebra I
teachers learn about, make sense of, plan for, and implement three
evidence-based Algebra I teaching practices that were identified in
the related What Work Clearinghouse (WWC) Practice Guide, "Teaching
Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High
School Students." The toolkit contains the following three parts:
(1) Initial Diagnostic and On-going Monitoring Instruments, (2)
Professional Development Resources, and (3) Steps for
Institutionalizing Supports for Evidence-Based Practice. This study
will assess whether implementing the toolkit improves teacher and
student outcomes and will describe the implementation of the
toolkit in study schools that use it. Using a school-level
randomized controlled trial during the 2024–2025 school year, the
study will estimate the impact of the toolkit on teachers’
self-efficacy and their understanding and use of the promising
practices, as well as on students’ algebraic content knowledge,
self-efficacy, and mathematical mindsets. To provide context for
the impact estimates and inform future use of the toolkit, the
study will also describe the implementation of the toolkit. The
study plans to include 20 schools from three districts. To
disseminate these findings, REL Central will produce a report for
school leaders and teachers who are potential users of the
toolkit.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.