The back-to-school season brings fresh starts and new opportunities. At SRI Education, our teams are partnering with states, districts, and communities nationwide to deliver research, insights, and tools that strengthen teaching and learning and support educators and students as they head back into the classroom.
In this issue, we welcome new SRI Education President Todd Grindal, share recent findings, and introduce new resources to support your work in the year ahead.
Featured News
SRI appoints Todd Grindal as Education Division President
SRI has named Todd Grindal as President of its Education Division. With deep expertise in child development, education policy, and program evaluation, Grindal will lead efforts to expand EdTech and AI initiatives while continuing SRI Education’s focus on research and support for learners across early childhood, K–12, and postsecondary education.
Can AI Help Kids Learn More from Online Videos?
Children spend countless hours watching online videos, but not all screen time supports learning. SRI’s Assisting Parents to Review Online Videos for Education (APPROVE) project is exploring how machine learning can help identify high-quality educational content and teaching practices in kids’ media. The team is also developing tools that parents and teachers can use to guide children toward videos that truly foster learning.
New Findings and Resources
AI and Education
PARC Forum: The Future of Education in the Age of AI
How can educators harness rapid AI innovation while ensuring accountability and student well-being? In SRI’s latest PARC Forum, held on September 2 in Washington, DC, Afua Bruce (ANB Advisory Group) moderated a panel discussion with Kumar Garg (Renaissance Philanthropy), Fernando Fabre (Kauffman Fellows), Erwin Gianchandani (NSF), and Leigh Ann DeLyser (SRI Education) on the challenges and opportunities AI brings to classrooms. Learn more and watch the recording here.
SRI Report Provides Expert Insights into Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting AI Literacy
SRI Education’s CIGALE project team recently released “Promoting AI Literacy in K–12: Components, Challenges, and Opportunities,” a report offering timely insights from educators and researchers on how to prepare students to understand and use AI responsibly as it becomes a growing priority in schools. Read the report here.
Innovation and Scaling
New Podcast: Scaling Literacy Recovery with PALS-RD
In the latest episode of The SRI Homeroom podcast, LEARN Network and SRI Education senior researcher Adrienne Woods joins Alida Hudson from the American Institutes for Research to discuss PALS-RD, an evidence-based literacy program designed to accelerate reading recovery. Woods and Hudson share insights into the program’s growth and offer practical tips and resources for developers and researchers seeking to scale educational innovations. Listen to the podcast here.
Why Evidence Isn’t Enough: Lessons from School and District Decision-Makers
Why do some educational products and programs succeed while others never make it past the pilot stage? The LEARN Network’s new blog post, “Why Evidence Isn’t Enough: Lessons from School and District Decision-Makers,” examines what really drives product adoption in schools. SRI Education authors Candice Benge Steele and Ela Joshi also offer actionable strategies for innovators working to design tools that meet educators’ needs, gain enthusiasm, and scale effectively. Read the blog to learn more.
Stories of Scaling: STARI
The latest entry in the LEARN Network’s “Stories of Scaling” series highlights the growth of the Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention (STARI), developed by the SERP Institute. Designed to build fluency, comprehension, and confidence for middle and high school students, STARI has scaled nationwide through strategic partnerships, innovative tools, and professional development. Learn more here.
Early Childhood
Innovative Technology for Early Childhood Assessment
SRI Education’s Innovative Technology for Early Childhood Assessment (INTECA) project is advancing the use of technology in authentic assessment for young children with disabilities. By providing a framework and practical tools, INTECA helps early intervention and early childhood special education professionals strengthen virtual assessment practices. Check out the team’s latest resources on the INTECA website.
Student Behavior
Classroom Management That Works
When teachers are equipped with effective strategies for building routines, setting clear expectations, and guiding behavior, they foster a classroom environment where students feel supported and safe. In this new Student Behavior Blog article, authors Maddie Cincebeaux, Kirby Chow, and Carl Sumi explore a comprehensive, research-based program designed to help high school teachers create positive, respectful, and engaging learning environments. Read the blog to learn more.
Conversations with the Field
Envisioning an Evidence-Based Education Ecosystem: A LEARN Network Panel Series
This summer, the LEARN Network hosted a four-part conversation series exploring how to embed research and evidence into daily decisions across classrooms, districts, and state education systems. Across the series, renowned national, state, and local leaders shared insights on scaling evidence use, elevating student and educator voices, and leveraging technology and AI to improve teaching and learning. Watch the full series, access transcripts of each discussion, and learn more on the LEARN Network website.
Research Design and Recruitment
Why Teachers Say Yes (or No) to Research Participation—and What Researchers Can Learn From It
In this new article from the Student Behavior Blog, SRI Education researchers take a closer look at what motivates teachers to participate in research, what deters them, and what researchers can do to better support and partner with schools. Our insights provide actionable strategies to make research participation more meaningful and accessible for educators. Click here to learn more.
Resources for the Field
The SRI Homeroom: Shaping the Future of Education, One Conversation at a Time
The SRI Homeroom podcast series offers down-to-earth discussions on the most pressing issues facing America’s students, educators, and families, along with the work being done to address them. Each episode features interviews with some of the nation’s leading researchers, data experts, educators, and developers, sharing their insights and solutions. Listen to the podcast here.
Connect with Us on Bluesky
SRI Education is now on Bluesky, and we’d love to connect with you there. Follow us for research-based insights, practical resources, and updates on our latest work in education, including events where we’ll be presenting. Follow us here!
Recent Publications from SRI Researchers
- Resource by Kathy Hebbeler and Sheresa Blanchard: A Scan of Professional Organizations for Positions and Resources on Virtual Assessment of Young Children with Disabilities
- Report by Kate Laguarda, Satabdi Basu, Ela Joshi, Patrik Lundh, Sophia Ouyang, Linda Shear, and Hui Yang: Scaling up CoolThink@JC: Implementation Study Endline Report
- Resource by Morgan Solender, Jessica Mislevy, and Ela Joshi: Education Procurement in Rural Communities: Lessons for Developing, Adopting, and Scaling Evidence-Based Products
- Resource by Morgan Solender, Jessica Mislevy, and Ela Joshi: How Educators Select Programs and Products: Lessons for Product Developers
Connect with Us at Upcoming Conferences
Division for Early Childhood (DEC)’s 41st Annual International Conference on Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families in Portland, OR
- Erika Gaylor will present “Social and Emotional Skills of Children at Risk for Behavior Disorders,” co-authored by Elisa Garcia. Join us on Tuesday, October 7, from 6:15 to 7:15 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Howard Morrison will present “Navigating Child Find Myths With Families, Pediatricians, and Providers” on Wednesday, October 8, from 9:15 to 10:15 am PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
SREE (Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness) 2025 in Chicago, IL
- Anandita Krishnamachari will present “Preparing 8th Graders for High School Success: Evaluation of Skills for Secondary Success (4S),” a paper co-authored with CJ Park. Join her on Thursday, October 9, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Haiwen Wang, Jessica Mislevy, and Hui Yang will present “Assessing the Efficacy of a Game-based Mathematics Intervention – a Pilot Study” on Thursday, October 9, from 10:30 to 11:30 am CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Christen Park and Carl Sumi will present “Outcomes of an Effectiveness Replication study of BEST in CLASS for Young Children at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Early Childhood Settings,” co-authored with Elisa Garcia, Michelle Woodbridge, Dan Cohen. Join us on Thursday, October 9, from 10:30 to 11:30 am CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Adrienne Woods will present the poster “Using AI to Transform IEP Data Use: Envisioning the Future of Special Education Research with SEAMLESS” on Friday, October 10, from 1 to 2 pm CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Christen Park will present the poster “Pilot Evaluation of Lyla in the Loop: A PBS KIDS Multimedia Property to Teach Early Computational Thinking,” co-authored with Claire Christensen and Erika Gaylor. Join us on Friday, October 10, from 1 to 2 pm CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Christen Park will present “Designing a Longitudinal Study of a Whole-Child, Two-Generation Approach to Supporting Children and Families from Low-Income Backgrounds,” co-authored with Elisa Garcia and Erika Gaylor. Join us on Friday, October 10, from 1 to 2 pm CT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
AECT 2025 International Convention in Las Vegas, NV
- Arif Rachmatullah will present the poster “Game Programming Professional Development’s Impact on Elementary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy for Teaching and Integrating Computational Thinking” on Monday, October 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Arif Rachmatullah and Hui Yang will present “Exploring the Impact of Game Programming Activities on Computational Thinking in Fifth-Grade Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial” on Tuesday, October 21, from 2:30 to 3:10 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
47th Annual Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM) Fall Research Conference in Seattle, WA
- Anne Partika will present “Observing Classrooms Through a Digital Lens: The Comparability of Live and Video Observations in Pre-Kindergarten” on Thursday, November 13, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Anne Partika will present a poster on “Understanding Faith-Based Providers’ Participation in the Child Care Subsidy System: Mixed-Methods Evidence from Arkansas” on Friday, November 14, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Nicholas Ortiz will present a poster on “Weathering Change: Revealing Extreme Weather’s Impact on Student Achievement to Boost Climate Resilience in Schools” on Saturday, November 15, from 12:00 to 1:30 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
- Adrienne Woods and Jennifer Tschantz will present “Unlocking the Potential of IEP Data: Designing AI Tools for Scalable Special Education Research” on Friday, November 14, from 5 to 6:30 pm PT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
TECBD (Teacher Educators of Children with Behavior Disorders) in Tempe, AZ
- Carl Sumi will present “BEST in CLASS: Evidence-Based Tier 2 Program for Early Childhood Classrooms,” on Friday, November 21, from 2:00 to 2:50 pm MT. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
2025 Advancing School Mental Health Conference in Orlando, FL
- Carl Sumi, Michelle Woodbridge, Dan Cohen will present “Outcomes of an Effectiveness Replication study of BEST in CLASS for Young Children at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Early Childhood Settings,” co-authored with Elisa Garcia and Christen Park. Join us in the symposium titled “Supporting Students with Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs Through Teacher Implemented Strategies” on Tuesday, December 2, from 10:15 to 11:45 am ET. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
