Office for Education Policy: How Funding Fuels Research Gary W. Ritter, Director, Office for Education Policy, Department of Education Reform

The Office for Education Policy (OEP): one of many research and service units in COEHP Established in 2003, and housed in the Department of Education Reform Who Are We?

Our Mission The Office for Education Policy seeks to be a resource that aids state policymakers, educators, administrators, and other leaders in thoughtful decision-making concerning K- 12 education in the state of Arkansas. In light of this mission, naturally, OEP has been following Arkansas education reform, and trying to track resulting changes in state education. The Office for Education Policy seeks to research key public policy issues relevant to K-12 education in Arkansas and disseminate the findings to policymakers in a timely and accessible manner.

Our Work The Office for Education Policy summarizes, synthesizes, and analyzes current issues and publishes this information in the forms of  Web-based resources  Policy briefs  Working research papers  Quarterly newsletters  Monthly e-news updates

Our office analyzes the General Assembly’s latest education reforms We also look at how Supreme Court decisions affect Arkansas Students

How Have Privately-funded Resources Benefited OEP’s Research? As a result of our Little Rock performance-pay evaluation, OEP has presented its findings to… US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor hearing, “ESEA Reauthorization: Boosting Quality in the Teaching Professions” Oklahoma House of Representatives, Education Committee: “Overcoming the Obstacles: Implementing Merit Pay Programs” Presentation to Florida Senate Education Committee, “An Evaluation of the Little Rock Achievement Challenge Pilot Project” Florida Department of Education: “Making Evidence Matter”

In addition, OEP has partnered with local school districts from around the state, evaluating a wide range of school reforms Tracing the outcome of the Lake View decision Examining merit pay programs in Little Rock Analyzing the effectiveness of technology in the classroom Studying the effects of early childhood programs Evaluating current science education standards Reporting on the current school funding formula Researching the effects of school consolidation

Our office regularly responds to research requests from legislators, administrators and local schools, including… Studying student performance at KIPP Delta Prep school in Helena Analyzing the effects of recent US Supreme Court decisions on school transfer policy Monitoring activities of the General Assembly Advising Arkansas Department of Education on policy matters

Private funding also provides our graduate students with unique opportunities and affords them a high degree of responsibility: Financial support for our doctoral fellows Our graduate research assistants have taken leading roles in investigating school reforms in local districts Students have also learned useful skills such as grant-writing and data analysis Students have met with legislators and gained valuable insights into policy development

For more information, please contact: The Office for Education Policy (479) Join our mailing list! /