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Institute for Effective Education, University of York: New York Times profiles evidence-based education
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The New York Times has published an article on the work of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the rise of evidence-based education.
The institute (an office in the US Education Department), aims to get real data about what works in education, particularly from randomised controlled trials, and shares findings through its What Works Clearinghouse website. Among those interviewed are Robert Slavin, a professor in the IEE (and Director of the Centre for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins School of Education), Peter Tymms from Durham University, and Jon Baron, president of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy.
The article covers the history of the IES and considers the difficulties of translating the institute’s research into practical change. As Slavin explains in the article "It's fascinating what a secret this is". Instead, he says, educators are often "swayed by marketing or anecdotes or the latest fad." However, he is hopeful of change. Despite little political drive in the US, the Obama administration has said its goal is to enable schools to use programmes that have been proven to work.