About Us
The Institute for Research and Reform in Education (IRRE) partners with districts and
schools to help all students develop the academic strengths they need for good jobs and
post-secondary education. IRRE is best known as the developer of First Things First, a
reform framework currently at work in nine districts with 70 schools. IRRE's research
and technical assistance support First Things First and strengthen the entire field of
educational reform. IRRE also provides consultation to state education officials,
foundations and other education professionals.
Among organizations supporting reform, IRRE is distinctive in its track record and approach:
- Systemic reform. IRRE requires and supports involvement in the reform at the district level even when working with only a subset of a district's schools.
- Getting Results in Secondary Schools. IRRE has helped struggling middle and high schools achieve important gains in student engagement and achievement, while most successful reform nationally has taken place only in elementary schools.
- Research-based standards. Because change has proven so difficult, reform too often proceeds along the path of least resistance rather than that of best evidence. IRRE bases its reform framework on solid research and constantly incorporates new findings into its work.
- Data-driven change. IRRE helps schools and districts collect meaningful data on student outcomes and effective practices. IRRE then analyzes and provides the data quickly to system leaders, teaching staff and family advocates so they can build on strengths and address challenges.
- Doing whatever it takes for as long it takes. IRRE brings a diverse, flexible and intensive set of supports to its district and school partners and stays with them as long as necessary.
MILESTONES
| 1989 |
President James Connell, PhD, and Louisa Pierson, PhD, found IRRE at
the University of Rochester to create research-based educational
strategies that support the healthy development of young people living in
low-income communities. |
| 1995 |
With funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Kansas
City, Kansas Public Schools becomes the first urban district to partner
with IRRE and begins planning for implementation of First Things First in all 43 of its schools. |
| 1999 |
A grant of $11.3 million from the U.S. Department of Education supports
FTF's expansion to additional secondary schools in Houston, Texas;
Riverview Gardens, Missouri; and Shaw and Greenville, Mississippi. |
| 2004 |
IRRE receives a $3.8 million planning and capacity building grant from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to extend and strengthen its national work. |
| 2005 |
A six-year, third-party evaluation finds significant effects of First Things
First on student commitment and achievement in Kansas City, Kansas at
elementary, middle and high school levels and district-wide reduction of
ethnic and economic achievement gaps in reading. |
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