Educators want to know what works, based on the best available research evidence. They want help implementing research-based practices. This website aims to help educators make good decisions and implement practices effectively by building a bridge from research to action.

DWW is led by the Office of Planning, Evaluation & Policy Development (OPEPD) at the U.S. Department of Education. OPEPD takes information from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) (and occasionally other entities that adhere to standards similar to those of IES) regarding the evidence on which to ground education practice and policy.

Much of the Doing What Works website content is based on information from IES’ What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). The WWC evaluates the research on practices and interventions to let the education community know what is likely to work. For each practice, it issues an intervention report that describes what the practice involves and what the research says.

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), and other Departmental offices help to disseminate the tools and resources so that research-based practices can be implemented in our nation’s classrooms.

The Doing What Works staff would also like to recognize the two contractors who support the DWW website: WestEd and Little Planet Learning. Without their tireless efforts, this website would not be possible.

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/index.html?src=oc
OPEPD oversees planning, performance measurement, evaluation, policy development, and budget processes in the U.S. Department of Education (ED). OPEPD coordinates these activities with ED principal offices and outside organizations such as Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and state education associations. OPEPD also coordinates activities of the Office of Educational Technology.

http://ies.ed.gov
The mission of IES is to provide rigorous evidence on which to ground education practice and policy. IES provides national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood through postsecondary study, in order to provide the public with reliable information about educational practices that support learning and access to educational opportunities for all students. In carrying out its mission, the institute conducts research, evaluation, and dissemination activities in areas of demonstrated national need, compiles statistics, and develops products.

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/index.html?src=oc
The mission of OESE is to promote academic excellence, enhance educational opportunities and equity for all of America’s children and families, and improve the quality of teaching and learning by providing leadership, technical assistance, and financial support.

OESE administers more than 50 programs with annual appropriations exceeding 21 billion dollars, including the Comprehensive Centers Program that supports 21 regionally-based and/or content-focused technical assistance centers charged with helping states achieve the goals of No Child Left Behind. More information regarding the Comprehensive Centers can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/newccp/index.html.

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/om/fs_po/oela/intro.html
OELA establishes and implements policy and national dissemination efforts of the bilingual education programs that serve the limited English proficient (LEP) children and adults. OELA provides national leadership and support for Departmental matters related to the education of linguistically and culturally diverse students. OELA is also charged with administering Title VII of the Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA), a program seeking to help local educational agencies (LEAs) and state education agencies (SEAs) develop and support high quality instructional programs for linguistically and culturally diverse students.