Project Description

DIR serves as part of the REL Peer Review contract team to IES for the 2017-2022 contract cycle under subcontract to Mathematica Policy Research. DIR staff (1) serve as lead, contributory, relevance, and usability reviewers for REL research proposals and reports; (2) lead the logistics and support task for REL Directors Meetings; and (3) provide as-needed guidance for the improvement of REL products.

DIR’s peer reviews focuses on

• Relevance – ensuring products provide actionable information that addresses a high-leverage problem
• Technical quality – covering aspects including the overall research design, data collection sources, methods, or instruments; sampling; analysis, including handling of missing data, methods or techniques used, statistical inference, or measures; and reporting/ presentation of findings
• Writing ­– ensuring products are clear and engaging; written in plain language accessible to an audience of policymakers and practitioners
• Utility – ensuring that tools or other training/coaching products are easy to use by the intended audiences

A broad range of education research topics are covered in the reviews, including: (1) educator effectiveness; (2) teacher preparation and workforce; (3) early childhood; (4) math and literacy; (5) college/career readiness and postsecondary; (6) data use; (7) English learners; and (8) research tools.  DIR also leads the logistics and support task for the semi-annual REL Director’s Meetings.