MTDS Glossary
Evidence-Based
Professional educators use “research-based” strategies and practices, which means researchers have conducted research following the scientific method and have determined the strategies/practices have proven to be effective in impacting student learning, behavior, etc. However, a research-based strategy, even while shown to be effective in many settings, may not be effective for all settings. Given this, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires schools to continually evaluate their research-based strategies/practices and programs and provide evidence of effectiveness of the strategies/practices/programs at the local level. The evidence of effectiveness of strategies/practices and programs is then considered based on four tiers of evidence. Some federal funding, specifically Title I, may be impacted based on the determination of level of evidence of effectiveness of a practice or program.