Chief Academic Officer Dr. Sha Bird presented WestEd recommendations and district data showing long-term multilingual learners experienced substantial regression in ACCESS growth; staff proposed task force, expanded professional development, pilots of curriculum materials, and an executive director position for multilingual learners.

WestEd researchers and collaborators will share new research findings and insights at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) Conference, September 23–26 in Baltimore, Maryland. T...

District officials presented findings from a WestEd review that rated all five areas examined as “emerging,” the second-lowest of four implementation ratings

Staff summarized WestEd's review that rated five essential elements of special education as "emerging," and pledged a districtwide MTSS-based response. Scores of parents and advocates urged faster action, clearer IEP implementation and stronger para and training supports during extended public comment.

WestEd consultant Janine Medvedich presented four secondary-school needs assessments, highlighting strong student–adult relationships and career/CTE pathways while urging changes to grading/recovery, student engagement, and master-schedule design; the board heard six districtwide recommendations tied to ongoing competency-based grading and schedule redesign.

The committee discussed the WestEd review and agreed to direct staff to develop a policy request to rewrite the statutory standards-revision process to improve efficiency and center research and independent review earlier in the process.

WestEd validated a math screener many schools already give to flag which young children are at risk for dyscalculia. The best first-grade cut score caught 96 percent of at-risk kids, and overflagged 40 percent who were not. Here is why that second number changes what a flag should mean.

WestEd's independent review found Utah's draft mathematics standards largely align with high‑quality benchmarks and are developmentally appropriate, but recommended targeted wording and measurability edits and flagged Utah's stronger early data‑science emphasis; committee asked staff to circulate WestEd findings and follow the written standards process.

Between August 2024 and March 2026, WestEd conducted an independent evaluation of outcomes based contracting, studying eight early-adopter districts across California, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas ...

Stronger district-vendor relationships are one benefit of contracts that tie results to compensation for products and services, a WestEd analysis finds.

This WestEd evaluation of Outcomes Based Contracting across eight early-adopter districts examines its impact, implementation, and drivers of success.

Staff reported that since inception the commission has invested approximately $280 million in BHSSA funds and outlined the next procurement cycle: summer engagement, RFA outline drafting in September, PAC review in November, commission review in January 2027 and an expected February 2027 RFA release for May 2027 awards. Staff noted a WestEd evaluation with preliminary findings due in November and a final report by mid‑2027.

It’s not a Barber family Edmonton visit without a trip to WestEd. Yes, that’s a boat inside the mall.