Knowledge From the Field

Access concise summaries of the key findings and recommendations from research related to the Department of Education's Reform Goals and links to the full reports.

"Knowledge from the Field" enables funders to quickly identify research that can inform their grantmaking activities related to the Department of Education's (DOE) Reform Goals. Foundation Center staff have summarized the studies included in this resource and pulled out the key findings and recommendations identified by the reports' authors. For definitions of the goals and details on how they correspond to the Foundation Center criteria used to identify actual foundation grants related to these goals click here.

Each summary lists the report's title, publisher, author(s), publication month and year, area of DOE focus, a brief description, key findings and/or recommendations, funders(s), subject(s), and geographic focus. This resource is being updated weekly. If you would like to recommend a report for inclusion in this repository, e-mail Reina Mukai at rkm@foundationcenter.org.

Education Reform Goals

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Race to the Top: What Grantmakers Can Learn From the First Round

Foundation Center
Lawrence, Steven
June 2010

Based on interviews with stakeholders in the Department of Education's first-round Race to the Top competition, examines the challenges states faced, grantmaker support for applications, concerns, and insights into grantmaker-government partnerships.

Funder(s): Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Interpreting “Race to the Top” TNTP Summary & Analysis of USDE Draft Guidelines

The New Teacher Project
September 2009

Outlines the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) “Race to the Top” Fund (RTT) application and selection process, summarizes the USDE application and overall selection criteria for RTT funding, and provides a checklist that states and districts can use to determine their own eligibility based on the four assurance areas and overall selection criteria.

Race to the Top: Colorado May Be Used to High Altitudes But Can It Compete in Race to the Top?

National Council on Teacher Quality
Walsh, Kate; Sandi Jacobs
August 2009

Outlines expected requirements for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's funding to the states for education reform. Offers strategies for improving teacher quality in Colorado, as well as data infrastructure, low-performing schools, and standards.

Funder(s): Colorado Children's Campaign, Donnell-Kay Foundation, Piton Foundation, Public Education & Business Coalition

Realigning Resources for District Transformation: Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds to Advance a Strategic Education Reform Agenda

Center for American Progress
April 2009

Offers ideas for spending stimulus funds strategically to align and restructure districts' use of resources to improve student performance by assessing current practices, focusing on support for quality instruction, and making transitional investments.

Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

By Design Not Default: Optimizing District Spending on Small High Schools

Education Resource Strategies
April 2009

Analyzes small school design elements driving extra per-student spending, needed start-up and ramp-up investments, and impact on facility use and enrollment projections. Offers a tool for quantifying resource use and suggestions for effective allocation.

Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Smart Options: Investing the Recovery Funds for Student Success

Coalition for Student Achievement
April 2009

Outlines stimulus funding priorities and actions for governors and superintendents to improve standards, data systems, teacher evaluations, efforts to turn around low-performing schools, and targeted interventions. Supplement lists resources and examples.

Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation