The Pennsylvania Evidence Resource Center (ERC) is part of a suite of tools that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has developed to support continuous improvement of teaching and learning in Pennsylvania. The PA ERC aims to share strategies and interventions that have the potential to positively impact student outcomes. We do this by locating, curating, and summarizing studies that meet ESSA’s evidence requirements and their relevant outcomes and required resources for implementation.
According to the 21St CCLC Cohort 12 RFP:
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), emphasizes the use of evidence-based activities, strategies, and interventions.
Section 4205(b)(1)(C) requires a 21st CCLC applicant to propose a program or activity that, “if appropriate,” is “based upon evidence-based research that the program or activity will help students meet the challenging State academic standards and any local academic standards.” The term “evidence-based” means an activity, strategy, or intervention that:
(i) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on:
(I) strong evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented experimental study.
(II) moderate evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or
(III) promising evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or
(ii) (I) demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and (II) includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention. (Section 8101[21]).
Webinar
Evidence as Your OST Ally: Using Evidence-Based Practices and the ERC for Out-of-School Time Programming
This recorded webinar introduces the Pennsylvania Evidence Resource Center website and illustrates how program leaders can best leverage this tool to support the implementation of evidence-based activities and curricula in their programs.
Leaders of 21CCLC programs can use research evidence to make great decisions, be prepared to implement programs, and increase the effectiveness of services for students and families. The Evidence Resource Center (ERC) explores what “evidence-based practice” means, locates evidence-based strategies on the PA ERC and other leading clearinghouses, and approaches the research base with an “outcomes mindset” – a focus on making a tangible change. The center shares new resources to find dozens of techniques, interventions, and programs that have been shown to work.