| Research
for Action researchers are well-informed about
urban school reform and public
education issues and are available to share their knowledge
with members of the news media. Areas of expertise
include, but are not limited to: strategies for improving schools; teacher quality, effectiveness, and capacity; college access and success; youth development; civic engagement; building literacies in and outside of schools; and district, state, and federal policy contexts.
For information, contact:
Jesse Gottschalk
Communications
Coordinator
jgottschalk@researchforaction.org
215-823-2500, X 509
Judy Adamson
Managing Director
jadamson@researchforaction.org
215-823-2500, X 503
Press Releases
February 1, 2009 - NEW STUDY SHOWS PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS ADDS BURDEN TO STRUGGLING SCHOOLS
September 14, 2009 — DR. KATHLEEN SHAW NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH FOR ACTION
August 24, 2009 — NEW STUDY SHOWS SMALL HIGH SCHOOLS CAN HELP STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SUCCEED, BUT NOT WITHOUT SUPPORT
July 6, 2009 — AMID
CONTROVERSY, NEW STUDY SHOWS INTERIM ASSESSMENTS
HAVE
THEIR PLACE
Recent Media
Coverage of Research for Action
Dale Mezzacappa discusses reactions to RFA's policy brief Context, Conditions, and Consequences, considers the possibility for reform in Changes in store for high school choice? (Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Dale Mezzacappa's Blog, February 12).
Public Education Network's Weekly News Blast (February 12th) spotlights RFA's latest policy brief, Context, Conditions, and Consequences: Freshman Year Transition in Philadelphia.
RFA's new policy brief, Context, Conditions, and Consequences: Freshman Year Transition in Philadelphia, was highlighted in the ASCD Smartbrief for February 5th.
School Victories spotlighted RFA's policy brief, Context, Conditions, and Consequences: Freshman Year Transition in Philadelphia in its Morning Announcements blog (February 8th).
Study finds high school choice 'an illusion': Kristen Graham of the Philadelphia Inquirer interviews Pamela Brown, the Philadelphia School District's interim chief academic officer, to discuss the district response to the recommendations in the new RFA policy brief, Context, Conditions, and Consequences: Freshman Year Transition in Philadelphia.
Paul Socolar reports on RFA's new policy brief with Report: High school choice an illusion. The article draws on the challenges and recommendations presented in Context, Conditions, and Consequences: Freshman Year Transition in Philadelphia from Research for Action. Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Paul Socolar's Blog, February 3, 2010.
Eva Gold discusses lessons from the history of community engagement on education issues in Philadelphia in an article about the School District's community engagement strategy, District: This time, community will have real voice in turnarounds (February, 2010), by Philadelphia Public School Notebook reporter Sarah Peterson.
Dale Mezzacappa discusses concerns over Philadelphia's ability to recruit, retain, and support effective teachers (Despite progress, problems keeping enough qualified teachers: Philadelphia Public School Notebook NEWSFLASH, December 2009). The article references the Effective Teaching Campaign, of which RFA is an endorser, and quotes Ruth Curran Neild on the problems of relying on emergency-certified teachers.
RFA's The Five School Study: Restructuring Philadelphia's Comprehensive High Schools will serve as the basis for some professional development at West High School, writes Dale Mezzacappa in "Activists seek more than a new building for West Philly High"; (Philadelphia Public School Notebook NEWSFLASH, November 2009). RFA principal Jolley Bruce Christman is quoted explaining the importance of studying the history and evolution of Philadelphia high schools.
Community Groups Turn Up Heat on Philadelphia Contract Talks, write Education Week authors Lesli A. Maxwell and Dakarai I. Aarons on their blog, District Dossier (November 3, 2009). The article links to RFA’s recent publication, Philadelphia’s Teacher Appraisal System: Needs Improvement, and features Betsey Useem discussing the work of the Effective Teaching Campaign, of which RFA is an endorser.
Eva Gold discusses the difficulties District eighth graders face in gaining admission to their preferred high schools in "Dash for the right high school: As Oct. 30 nears, 8th-graders weigh choices for next year,” by Dafney Tales (Philadelphia Daily News, October 14, 2009). "Math proficiency is ahead of the curve,” by Connie Langland (Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 2009), quotes RFA Senior Research Consultant Suzanne Blanc on the role of staff professional development in improving student outcomes.
In "Teacher campaign takes platform to the mayor" (Philadelphia Public School Notebook BLOG, October 9, 2009), Dale Mezzacappa discusses RFA’s recent report, Philadelphia's Teacher Appraisal System: Needs Improvement, as well as the Effective Teaching Campaign, of which RFA is an endorser.
"Selecting a high school: Not a level playing field," by RFA’s Shani Adia Evans and Dale Mezzacappa (Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Fall Guide 2009), discusses the School District of Philadelphia’s high school selection system, and the elements of that system which inhibit many students from attending the schools of their choice. (Look for Transition to High School: School "Choice" & Freshman Year in Philadelphia -- an upcoming report from RFA that builds on and expands these themes.)
"How to get the best teachers possible" by Jolley Bruce Christman and Betsey Useem (Op ed - Philadelphia Inquirer, September 8, 2009). Three steps would be a powerful beginning, and what's more, they are doable. There is abundant research to support all of these actions...
Elizabeth Useem
was quoted in "Group
urges improved teacher quality in Philadelphia" by Martha Woodall (Philadelphia Inquirer,
March 31, 2009). Dr. Useem drew from Research for
Action's teaching quality research to comment on
the issue of teacher retention in Philadelphia.
"Quality Vs. Quantity" by Morgan Zalot (City Paper, March 31, 2009) refers to Research for Action's most recent report on teacher quality, Closing the Teacher Quality Gap in Philadelphia: New Hope and Old Hurdles. |
