Educational Research And Development In The United States

Study prepared for the OECD on the present status and future growth of research and development in respect of educational research in the USA - covers the organization of primary education, secondary education and higher education, examines economic resources, management technique and impact of educational policy and practice, and concludes that the absence of an overall strategy, inadequate financial support, labour shortage and imperfect statistical tables are the main obstacles to educational development.

Governments urgently need better national information bases for determining educational policy and practice in an increasingly interconnected world. This report, from the first phase of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), presents a framework for improved international cooperation in improving the knowledge base for educational practice and policy formation. The information is based on CERI seminars and country reports from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The first chapter presents the statement of the problem and explains how the study was conducted. The second chapter examines some of the pervasive criticisms directed at educational research and describes some implications for research policy. An analysis of what the term "educational research and development" means is presented in the third chapter. Chapter 4 describes the current position of educational research in a group of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, using several indicators of research-and-development finance and staffing. Chapter 5 discusses how educational research relates to policy and practice and how this relationship might be improved. The sixth chapter considers what the knowledge base in education is and could be like. What are the interests of the various constituencies and how can these interests be better aligned? The last chapter presents a summary of the main challenges and describes the options for government policy. One figure and four tables are included. Appendices contain case studies of innovation in educational research and development (R&D), a list of subject interests from country reports, and a description of the methodology used in measuring indicators of educational R&D. Each chapter contains references. (LMI)

The Committee on the Federal Role in Education Research (CFRER), convened by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), studied the structure, operations, and functioning of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) in the Department of Education and the organizations it supports, and reviewed the roles of other agencies and the overall research needs of U.S. education. The United States is currently committed to education reform, in which the OERI may play a major role. The examination of the OERI found an agency severely challenged by external difficulties as well as internal problems. External problems include public conflicts about education and funding. Internal problems include a weak advisory council and frequent administrative turnover. Uneven quality control, limited coordination among OERI offices, and poor information dissemination are flaws that should be overcome. The CFRER concludes that the OERI should be rebuilt. CFRER recommendations are grouped according to: (1) governance; (2) organization and functions; (3) operations; and (4) funding. To accomplish its redefined functions, the OERI should receive a substantial funding increase. There is a 220-item list of references, and an appendix gives biographical sketches of 17 CFRER and staff members. (SLD)