RESEARCH
We believe that by partnering scholarly research and grassroots community organizing, we are able to inform policy and transform low-income communities. Recently, we have begun extensive research regarding teacher effectiveness and teacher demographic trends in Illinois. In addition, we participated in the October 2010 “Building a Pipeline of Effective Teachers of Color” dialogue, co-hosted by the Illinois P-20 Council. Here are some excerpts from some of our recent research efforts as well as some scholarly articles that support work similar to ours.
Education
- Characteristics of Highly Effective Teachers, by Dr. Brian Schultz and Leslie Ramyk (complete with extensive Bibliography)
- Grow Your Own Teacher Candidate in the Communities, by Leslie Ramyk
- Grow Your Own Teachers: First Year Results, by OER Associates, LLC
- What Does Teacher Testing Tell Us about Teacher Effectiveness, by Dan Goldhaber
- Depolarizing the Debate on How to Measure and Cultivate Teacher Effectiveness, by Warren Simmons, Executive Director of the Annenberg Institute
Minimum Wage
- Minimum Wage Impacts on Employment: A Look at Indiana, Illinois, and Surrounding Midwestern States, by
Michael F. Thompson: Economic Research Analyst - Poll that shows strong support for minimum wage increase in Illinois by Kiley & Company, Opinion Research Consultants
- Wall Street Journal Article: Workers Not Benefiting From Productivity Gains
Foreclosure
Foreclosure Mediation Programs:
- Before Cook County started: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/time_we_talked.html
- After Cook County Started: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/06/foreclosure_mediation.html
- TRF Fund Philadelphia Program Research (New) http://www.trfund.com/resource/downloads/policypubs/Foreclosure_Diversion_Initial_Report.pdf
Vacant Property
http://www.995hope.org/content/pdf/Apgar_Duda_Study_Short_Version.pdf