Improvement Research Penetration in State Education Agencies: Putting Big Data to Work

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: The Evolving Landscape of Improvement: Theorizing for the Future of Improvement in Education

Abstract

State education agencies (SEAs) are crucial intermediaries between federal policy and local implementation, yet their adoption of improvement research approaches remains understudied. This study examines improvement methodology penetration across 36 SEAs using automated web scraping of 72,228 records from official websites and documents. We investigated 13 approaches including design-based implementation research, community-based research, and networked improvement communities. Findings reveal substantial variation in adoption rates, with Missouri leading efforts. Data Wise was most prevalent (13.781% of records), while executive leadership units showed highest penetration (183.608%). Results indicate improvement approaches penetrate SEAs primarily through practical tools and principles rather than explicit methodological frameworks. This research provides insights into state-level capacity for supporting evidence-based practice implementation in schools and districts.

Authors

• Peilin Qiu, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Lora Cohen-Vogel, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Nina Wetoska