Information From Research

Many organizations offer sound, research-based information and resources for families and teachers. The sources you see here may provide as much good information as you need. They also offer links to many other excellent resources.

And, if you aren’t sure where to find the information you need, contact the WV Parent Connections Regional Resource Partner for your region of West Virginia.

Boosting Achievement
Read about studies that show how parents and teachers can work together to help children learn more. Making a difference can be as simple as talking at the dinner table. Read more.

The Educator’s Reference Desk
www.eduref.org/About/index.shtml
This site provides access to many types of information: lesson plans, resource guides, and publications related to education research. Operated by the Information Institute of Syracuse, the site offers links to the Gateway to Educational Materials (see below) and the Education Resources Information Center, or ERIC (www.eric.ed.gov).

Families-Schools.org
www.families-schools.org
This site is sponsored by the Center for Innovation and Improvement, a national content center funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It offers many research-based resources to help families and schools work together. One of these resources, Solid Foundation, is a school-based team process designed to strengthen family-school connections, engage parents in children’s learning, and improve student learning. Check the Resource Spotlights at the top of the home page to get information on topics such as supporting English language learners.

The Family Center on Technology and Disability
www.fctd.info
This center supports organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. It offers a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. Organizations, parents, educators, and interested friends will find information that helps to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities. The Family Center on Technology and Disability operates entirely through program support from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM)
www.thegateway.org
Operated by the National Education Association, this site offers access to thousands of learning resources from a wide range of organizations, agencies, foundations, and other providers.

Getting Students on the College Track: Parents React to School Performance
www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/onedream.pdf
A 2008 report titled One Dream, Two Realities looks at parents’ experiences with their children’s schools. The differences between low-performing and high-performing middle and high schools are not just academic; these schools relate to parents differently. Read about how parents want schools to work as partners to get students ready for college and careers.

Harvard Family Research Project
www.hfrp.org
The project promotes effective educational practices, programs, and policies for disadvantaged children and youth by generating, publishing, and disseminating the project’s and others’ research. Also included on the site is information about complementary learning programs that support children beyond school. Nonschool learning supports include early childhood programs, families, after-school programs, libraries, and other community-based institutions.

LD OnLine
www.ldonline.org
This site calls itself the world’s leading site on learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It provides a wealth of information for parents, educators, and children to help them understand and succeed with different types of learning disabilities. How to recognize learning disabilities, where to look for expert help, and access to information in Spanish are some of the features on this site.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
www.naeyc.org
The association works to improve early childhood education for all young children. It provides professional development opportunities and resources, convenes individuals and groups with diverse perspectives to generate new knowledge and understanding, and sets and promotes standards for early childhood education and early childhood professional preparation.

National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools
www.sedl.org/connections
The center’s work bridges research and practice to connect schools, families, and communities. It provides research-based information to help families and educators improve student achievement.

National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org
The institute works to produce and communicate knowledge to help every American child receive a good education at ages three and four. The institute offers independent research-based advice and technical assistance to policymakers, journalists, researchers, and educators.

National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University
www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/index.htm
The partnership studies the nature and results of family and community involvement in education. It aims to increase knowledge of new concepts and strategies; use research results to develop tools and materials that will improve policy and practice; provide professional development conferences and workshops; share best practices of parent involvement and community connections; and recognize excellent partnership programs at the school, district, organization, and state levels.

National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning
www.sedl.org/afterschool
The partnership helps state education agencies and local practitioners develop high-quality, balanced programs that provide a safe and fun environment for academic enrichment as well as youth development activities.

Parents as Teachers National Center
www.parentsasteachers.org
The center provides parents with child development knowledge and parenting support. It delivers its four program areas through a network of state leaders and partners. WV Parent Connections works to make this research-based, award-winning program available to families in West Virginia. To learn more about Parents as Teachers, visit the Web site, which offers sections that are customized to parents and to educators. To learn about WV Parent Connections, work with Parents as Teachers, visit that page on this Web site.

What Works Clearinghouse
www.whatworks.ed.gov
The clearinghouse collects, screens, and identifies studies of effectiveness of educational interventions (programs, products, practices, and policies). Topics now available include early childhood education, elementary school math, English language learners, and beginning reading.

ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
http://zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE supports the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families by informing, educating, and supporting adults. The Web site offers research-based information and tools to help parents and caregivers develop their own ways to promote their children’s growth and development. For educators, resources include professional development and information from research.

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This Web site is supported in whole or in part by funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, under grant #U310A060257. Its content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, any other agency of the U.S. government, or any other source.