How to Read this Information

Search the ARCC's database of technical assistance products and services using the fields below. Sources for these products and services include the Comprehensive Center Network, which offers resources from the five content centers, other federally sponsored programs, and other organizations. The Comprehensive Centers are charged with identifying links to appropriate sources of information and assistance, including the U.S. Department of Education Web site and the NCLB-related resources located there. You will find two types of resources on the ARCC Web site: (1) general information, such as Web sites for organizations, and (2) technical assistance resources. Descriptions of all technical assistance resources must include information about the rigor of the research conducted and evidence supporting the level of rigor.

ARCC staff have developed a rating system to help you evaluate the types of research used to develop and validate listed resources. This table explains the rating system, which has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Rating	Research Type	Description
	Meta-analyses of randomized control trials	This group includes systematic reviews and/or statistical meta-analyses of randomized control trials. Meta-analyses look at a large number of studies together to identify common findings.
	Randomized control trials	These are studies that randomly assign individuals to intervention and control groups in order to measure the effects of the intervention. The randomized control trials do not have problems with randomization, attrition, or disruption.
	Quasi-experimental/regression discontinuity studies	These studies compare outcomes for intervention participants with outcomes for a comparison group chosen through methods other than randomization. This group includes strong quasi-experimental studies that have comparison groups and randomized trials with randomization, attrition, or disruption problems. It may also include regression discontinuity designs that do not have problems with attrition or disruption.
	Multiple-site, longitudinal studies that use correlation, regression, or other types of statistical analyses	These studies include multiple site but do not employ comparison groups and randomization. This group might also include analyses of large datasets, such as those developed by NCES, using correlation or regression techniques.
	Case studies or cross-sectional studies	These studies involve individual sites only and/or cross-sectional data, without experimental or comparison groups and without randomization.
	Expert or practitioner opinion/theory	The expert opinion or theory is supported in published discourse; expert practitioner has years of experience with demonstrated success.
	Other	Research type or study design is not identified in one of the other six categories listed above.

Please note: To evaluate research type, ARCC staff members review the documentation from providers of technical assistance, which may include supporting evidence. Inclusion on this Web site does not constitute an endorsement of any product by the ARCC, Edvantia, or the U.S. Department of Education. Users would be wise to further investigate the rigor of the research before purchasing or implementing resources listed here. If you would like to contact ARCC staff to suggest or update a resource description, please contact us at info@arcc.edvantia.org.