Research and Resources
for AESA Members
Research and Resources
Commissioned by AESA
Improving
American Education Through Educational Service Agencies
Selected examples of
Educational Service Agency support provided by members of the Association
of Educational Service Agencies’ Council, Governmental Relations
Committee, and former Council and Committee members.
A White Paper prepared for the US Department of Education, January 2010
State
Association Reports
AESA is
collecting state association annual reports. To add your state's report to
this list please e-mail it to info@aesa.us.
AESA
Survey on Back Office Services
Offering back
office services is definitely a new trend for ESAs. Back office services
include such things as business operations, payroll, accounts receivable,
accounts payable, purchasing, investment services, etc. AESA
appreciates the time ESAs took to complete this survey. Your
responses are critical for the advancement of ESAs across the country.
The
Role of Educational Service Agencies in Supporting Alternative
Teacher Certification Programs, Phase 2
(November 2008)
This study is a follow-up to the April 2008 “The
Role of Educational Service Agencies in Supporting Alternative Education
Programs – Phase I”
published by the Association of Educational Service Agencies. This Phase
II study follows it with qualitative data about how selected ESAs that
participated in the Phase I study operate alternative certification
programs. As with Phase I, this Phase II study was conducted by the
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. AESA thanks our
corporate partner Laureate Education, Inc., for coordinating with Walden
University, a member of the Laureate Universities Network, for their
ongoing support and for funding this research study.
Educational
Service Agency Accountability and Accreditation: Is a National System Needed? (January
2009)
Research
funded by the AESA Foundation. Research conducted by Learning Point
Associates
AESA contracted with Learning Point Associates, a nonprofit education
research organization, to conduct a national study of ESA accountability
and accreditation initiatives. The purposes of the study are to provide a
picture of the current state of ESA accountability and accreditation
policies in AESA states, provide insight into whether AESA should play a
role in the development of a national accountability or accreditation
system, and investigate some of the system design decisions AESA would
have to consider if it decided to pursue a national accountability system,
including identifying the types of core services for which ESAs should be
held accountable, determining performance measures, and establishing
standards or benchmarks.
Educational
Service Agency Online Education Needs Survey
(December 2008)
This new research
project of AESA will assist agencies that are considering developing or
expanding online education programs. This study seeks to extend the
research initiated with the study of alternative
certification. It
seeks to quantify needs identified by ESA leaders and substantiated by
contemporary literature for online education curricula, and to establish
initial data from which AESA may assist its member ESAs in developing
services for the school districts they serve. AESA thanks Walden
University, a member of the Laureate Universities Network, for the funding
of this study.
Read
the 2009 issue of Perspectives
The
annual publication is AESA’s journal reflecting
needs, policies, research and other issues affecting ESAs.
A
Network for Educational Change in the Great Lakes Region: A View Through
the Lens of Educational Service Agencies
(July 2008)
This
new research report by Great Lakes East and Great Lakes West Comprehensive
Centers at Learning Point Associates provides
an overview of the structure, capacity and roles of ESAs in the region,
within the context of the broader statewide systems of support for
educational improvement and progress.
The
Role of Educational Service Agencies in Supporting Alternative
Teacher Certification Programs, Phase 1
(April
2008) (1.5
mb)
This
new research project of AESA examines the increasing role ESA's are
playing in the area of alternative certification. This is Phase 1 of an
ongoing study. The data from this work indicates that common issues that
ESA's across the nation face include program funding, relationships with
other agencies, difficulty partnering with institutions of higher
education, difficulty obtaining higher education credit, and external
communications and marketing. AESA thanks Walden University, a member of
the Laureate Universities Network, for the funding of this study.
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) conducted the
research and completed phase one of the project.
Fall
2007 Perspectives
Staff Development: Are ESA programs effective? How do we know?
Nothing can exceed the value of sound
research data in demonstrating to policy makers and the public the
importance of educational service agencies in providing cost-effective,
cost-efficient services to local districts. Copies were mailed to all
AESA members. See Publications link for previous editions.
The
Uniqueness of the Leadership Roles of CEO's of ESAs:
A Preliminary Draft of the Findings
By William Keane, E. Robert Stephens
and Brian Talbott
Presented at the AESA annual conference, December 2005, Savannah, GA.
This quantitative survey represents an attempt to determine to what
extent the role of a CEO of a regional educational service agency
requires different skills and knowledge than the knowledge and skills
required of a superintendent of a local school district.
Legal Brief on Perkins and ESAs
This paper was commissioned by
AESA and written by Hogan & Harson L.L.P. with the support of Apple.
This legal brief outlines the changes to the recently reauthorized
Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act. Written November
2006.
Opportunities Brief on Perkins for ESAs
This paper was commissioned by AESA and written by Martha Vockley with
the support of Apple. This opportunity brief outlines the changes to the
recently reauthorized Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement
Act and the role of ESAs. Published November 2006.
White Paper on
Supplemental Educational Services & ESAs
This paper commissioned
by AESA and written by Hogan & Hartson L.L.P answers all your questions about
supplemental educational services under NCLB that are provided free of charge to
eligible students outside of the regular school day. Published September 2005.
Opportunities
Brief on NCLB and ESAs
AESA and the Grant Wood AEA in Iowa commissioned
an opportunities brief on the NCLB legislation for ESAs. Published May 22, 2002.
Legal Brief on NCLB and ESAs
AESA commissioned a
legal brief from the law firm of Brustein & Manasevit to
analyze the "Eligibility of ESAs for No Child Left Behind"
Programs. Published April 1, 2002.
Research and
Resources by AESA Members and Agencies
State Association Reports
AESA is
collecting state association annual reports. To add your state's report
to this list please e-mail it to
info@aesa.us.
A
Comprehensive Study on Programs, Governance and Administration of
Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) in West Virginia
A RESA Task Force
Report in Response to West Virginia Senate Bill 127, November,
2006
Comparison of Arkansas
Education Service Cooperative Network to Three Other State Networks
By the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research, a Research Project, on
Nov. 8, 2006
Massachusetts
Collaboratives: Making the Most of Education Dollars
By M. Craig Stanley
A white paper by the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research.
The Educational Service Agency: American
Education's Invisible Partner
By E.
Robert Stephens and William G. Keane
Here's how
to order copies.
American's ESAs are
unequivocally the least understood and the worst-documented components
of the public education system. There are many reasons for this
situation. This books helps the reader understand ESAs and their role in
the education system.
Research
and Resources on ESAs
State Association Reports
AESA is
collecting state association annual reports. To add your state's report
to this list please e-mail it to
info@aesa.us.
Superintendent
Perceptions of their Professional Development in Leadership for Student Achievement at
Texas Regional Educational Service Centers
Doctoral Dissertation
by Jerry G. Maze presented to the Faculty of the College of Graduate Studies
at Lamar University (May 2009)
The purpose of this research was to capture and analyze perceptions of Texas
superintendents practicing in the 2008-2009 school year regarding their
professional development at Texas Regional Education Service Centers (RESCs)
in the area of leading student achievement.
Superintendents statewide were surveyed and results analyzed using
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey Post hoc tests to compare perceptions
of effectiveness to the demographic characteristics of the superintendents.
Likert-scale questions and three open-ended questions gathered
perceptions and allowed narrative answers to perceived barriers to
professional development and superintendents’ proposed solutions to
overcoming those barriers at Texas RESCs.
Superintendents
and Education Service Centers: A
Partnership for Student Achievement.
Article published
in TASA Insight, October, 2009.
Recognizing,
Determining, and Addressing Entrepreneurial Innovations by Superintendents
of Emerging or Established Educational Service Agencies
Doctoral Dissertation
by Kari M. Arfstrom
(April 2009)
This dissertation
describes how entrepreneurial superintendents of educational service
agencies (ESAs) recognize, determine and address common and distinct
innovative characteristics within emerging or established regional
educational environments. Because internal and external factors assist in
recognizing innovative practices, this study verifies how superintendents
obtain this information and reviews internal standard operating
procedures. This study also explores if entrepreneurial activities can be
replicated at other ESAs.
The
Monroe County Intermediate School District: A Case Study
Doctoral Dissertation by Donald A. Spencer (November 2008)
The purpose of this
study was to understand the Monroe County Intermediate School District in
order to inform educational leadership. In developing this understanding,
the researcher examined the ideological foundations of Michigan’s system
of public education the manner in which ideology has impacted the
educational governance and service functions of the Monroe County
Intermediate School District, and the actions taken by certain actors, on
behalf of the Monroe County Intermediate School District, to influence the
development of public policy.
Feasibility
of School District Services Consolidation
(February
2009)
This
newly released report by the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
relied on the resources of AESA and interviews with AESA
members to inform the understanding of the educational service agency
model and some of the associated complexities.
A
Study of the Role of Educational Service Agencies in Teacher
Professional Development
Little research exists on the role of Educational Service Agencies in
the provision of teacher professional development. How do ESAs deliver
professional development to teachers and school districts? A Hezel
Associates survey discusses it. Executive summary and full report
available.
Copy
of Secretary Paige's Letter to the Chief State School Officers
Sent
to all Chief State School Officers, Spring, 2003, regarding the roles of ESAs in NCLB.
Driving
More Money into the Classroom:
The Promise of Shared Services. A Deloitte Research Study
This
report explores the concepts of shared services in education. describing
in detail how sharing services such as maintenance, transportation and
food services is a better option than consolidation for many school
districts.
Written November, 2005
Recent
Reports in the National News
The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed
into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. The ARRA provides
more than $100 billion in education funding and college grants and
tuition tax credits, as well as billions more for school modernization.
The
Nation’s Report Card 2009
The Nation’s Report CardTM informs the public about the
academic achievement of elementary and secondary students in the United
States. Report cards communicate the findings of the National Assessment
of Educational Progress (NAEP), a continuing and nationally
representative measure of achievement in various subjects over time.
The
Condition of Education 2010
(May 2010) New!
NCES
has released "The Condition of Education 2010," a
congressionally mandated report that provides an annual portrait of
education in the United States. The report presents 49 indicators on the
status and condition of education, in addition to a special section on
high-poverty schools.
America's
Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being
(July 2010)
New!
The Forum's
signature report, America's Children: Key National Indicators of
Well-Being, provides annual updates on the well-being of children
and families in the United States across a range of domains. A more
detailed report alternates every other year with a condensed version
that highlights selected indicators. This year, the Forum is publishing
a Brief report. The Forum will publish its next full report in July
2011.
Digest
of Education Statistics 2009 (March
20 10)
The 45th annual
Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical
information covering the broad field of American education from
prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a
variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges,
teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational
attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and
international comparisons.
Professional
Learning in the Learning Profession: A Status Report on Teacher
Development in the U.S. and Abroad
(February
2009)
By
Linda Darling-Hammond … et al. for the National Staff Development
Council
This
new report reveals that much of the professional development
available today focuses on educators’ academic content knowledge, and
pays growing attention to mentoring support, particularly for new
teachers. But, overall, the kind of high-intensity, job-embedded
collaborative learning that is most effective is not a common feature of
professional development across most states, districts, and schools in
the United States.
6th
Annual AP Report to the Nation
(February 2010)
15.9 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009 had access to
an AP experience that resulted in a score of 3 or higher — the score
research shows to be indicative of students learning at levels that
increase the likelihood of success in college. This achievement
represents a significant and consistent improvement since the class of
2004, when 12.7 percent of graduates had experienced success in AP.
Eighteen states equaled or exceeded the national percentage of 15.9
percent.
(January 2009)
This
new report by the Department of Education examines
the history of public education in the U.S. and how students once left
behind are now making progress. It explores education's evolution in
America from a privilege for a few to a necessity for all. It tells
the story of a remarkable comeback by our nation's students, who are
achieving record high test scores in reading and math and reveals the
reforms that have led to these results.
Evaluating
Online Learning: Challenges and Strategies for Success
(July
2008)
This new guide from the Department of Education highlights seven
evaluations that address a broad spectrum of online learning options,
from programs that provide online courses to web sites that feature
education resources. These evaluations can assist schools in
identifying whether online programs and resources are performing as
promised.
National Research
from the USED
For information on
The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
For information on
USED Grants and Contracts
For information on
USED Research and Statistics
Sign up for
USED Newsletters
Frequently Requested
Documents
Past Issues
of Perspectives: A Journal of Research and Opinion About Educational
Service Agencies
Archived issues from
1997 to 2006
State
Statutes and Regulations
AESA has developed an easy tool
to access state statutes for Educational Service Agencies. Updated
as necessary.
Sample
Job Descriptions
AESA is collecting sample job descriptions from our member ESAs to
assist in your research.
Sample
Evaluation Surveys
AESA is collecting sample job evaluation forms from our member ESAs to
assist in your research.
History:
Association of Educational Service Agencies: 25th Anniversary
By Lee Christiansen, Past AESA Executive Director, Published December
2001.
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