Education policy research has produced a wealth of information, but it has been less successful at actually informing education policy. Iris Rotberg notes that the issues addressed by policy research evoke strongly-held value judgments that are more powerful than research findings. But she also suggests steps we can take to strengthen the utility…

Propelled by accountability policies, leaders have touted data-driven decision making as a means to improve K-12 student outcomes and drive equity, as teachers analyze data to change instruction. However, many data-driven decision-making reforms have failed to challenge inequity. Melanie Bertrand and Julie Marsh's study of six middle schools shows…