The Reformers who are Leading this Movement
Statement of Assistant Secretary Grover J. Whitehurst Before the House Subcommittee on Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations on the FY 2004 Budget Request for the Institute of Education Sciences does not mention the ERIC system at all. Dissemination focus is on the What Works Clearinghouse, see especially the second to last paragraph of the Education Research and Dissemination section.
Testifying on February 28, 2002 about the possible reauthorization of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Dr. Grover Whitehurst closed his remarks by saying:
This is a unique and unparalleled opportunity to begin a process that will make American education an evidence-based field. If we succeed in this task, historians may look back at our actions in the next weeks and months as building the foundation for a new era in learning and teaching, an era that propelled the United States into another century of preeminence.
A good summary of the testimony that day, including names of other witnesses is available from CoSN (Consortium for School Networking). The official site for the hearing includes testimony of all the witnesses:
Scientific Research in Education
« Scientific Research in Education from the National Academies Press. Prepared by Committee on Scientific Principles for Education Research, Richard J. Shavelson and Lisa Towne, Editors, National Research Council.
« The What Works Clearinghouse is a new initiative of the Department of Education aimed at making information about effective education practices readily available. In a June 20, 2003 Press Release they announced "What Works Clearinghouse Advisors Approve Standards for Scientific Evidence on Educational Effectiveness." The Study DIAD (Study Design and Implementation Assessment Device) is posted, the CREAD (Cumulative Research Evidence Assessment Device) is yet to come. See http://www.w-w-c.org/standards.html for a list of available documentation. Their "Overview of the Review Process" document offers definitions of "scientific evidence" and "what works" (effectiveness).« The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, (here's a link to an excellent overview and summary of this legislation from Education Week) which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, calls for the use of "scientifically based research" as the foundation for many education programs and for classroom instruction. On February 6, 2002, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Susan Neuman hosted a seminar where leading experts in the fields of education and science discussed the meaning of scientifically based research and its status across various disciplines. They have posted a transcript of the seminar.
Submitted Paper—The Logic and the Basic Principles of Scientific Based Research—Michael Feuer and Lisa Towne
Transcript -- The Logic and the Basic Principles of Scientific Based Research—Michael Feuer and Lisa Towne
Educational Researcher November 2002 Special issue on Scientific Research in Education
« Phi Delta Kappan has an article in the April 2003 issue entitled "April Foolishness: The 20th Anniversary of A Nation at Risk," by Gerald W. Bracey. The article points out the political nature of education reform movements and focuses on standardized testing as a measure of student progress. A view from the other side.
« Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy held a major policy forum with U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. At the forum they released the report entitled Bringing Evidence-Driven Progress to Education: A Recommended Strategy for the Department of Education, state that the recent enactment of No Child Left Behind, and its central principle that federal funds should support educational activities backed by “scientifically-based research,” offers an opportunity to bring rapid, evidence-driven progress – for the first time – to U.S. elementary and secondary education.