Over the last decade, a call for “evidence-based practices” has saddled school districts with the responsibility of using research to inform their instructional and even organizational decisions.

Yet, research is abundant and staying abreast of new findings can be challenging for busy practitioners. In 2019, the Ingham ISD decided to publish regular research summaries as one way to help synthesize empirical literature on topics requested by local districts. We hope they encourage discussion and inform future decision-making.

If you have questions about the summaries or would like additional information, please contact Lindsay Wood.

Aligning student passions with regional education services (aspires)

General Information

The ASPiRES project was launched in Spring 2020 as a research-practice partnership between students in the College of Education at Michigan State University (MSU) and Ingham ISD's Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE). The long-term goal of the partnership is to better understand ways students develop career motivation and engagement so that, as a service region, we can better align educational programming with student strengths, interests, and needs. Phase 1 was completed in May 2021. Phase 2 began in Fall 2021 and is currently ongoing.

For more information, reach out to the ASPiRES team.

If you are a parent and wish to opt your child out of the career planning survey happening in October, please review the parent opt-out letter below and let us know as soon as possible,

Parent/Participant Information

PDF DocumentASPiRES Overview

PDF DocumentPhase 2 Family Opt-Out Letter

PDF DocumentPhase 2 Family Information Sheet

PDF DocumentFrequently Asked Questions

Completed Summaries

Participation in Advanced Placement (AP) programming continues to grow, but does the program warrant its increasing popularity? This review highlights the considerations districts should make when deciding the direction of their honors and AP courses. 

PDF DocumentRead what the research says about AP classes

Students often want to listen to background music while completing assignments, but does such music facilitate or hinder learning? This research review unpacks the question. 

PDF DocumentRead what the research says about background music

Formative assessment is currently a popular topic in the world of education research. This research summary describes what formative assessment is, why is is important for teaching/learning, and how teachers can use it effectively in their classrooms. 

PDF DocumentFormative Assessment Research Summary

PDF DocumentFormative Assessment Resources

Video DocumentPresentation by Lindsay Burris and Andrew Shauver discussing Formative Assessment

How to group students across buildings is one of the most basic organizational decisions district leaders face, yet research suggests that various configurations impact the social and academic development of students. This research summary explores the benefits and challenges of the most popular configurations across our nation. 

Grade Level Configuration Research Summary

Summative assessment is an important part of a balanced assessment system. This research summary explores ways teachers can improve their classroom summative assessments. 

PDF DocumentSummative Assessment Research Summary

Video DocumentIngham ISD's Lindsay Burris and Kelly Trout visited #517EdTech's Digital Instruction Network to discuss Summative Assessment

Given the prominence of technology in today's 21st-century classrooms, a robust information technology (IT) staff is critical. However, school districts nationwide report challenges with attracting and retaining good IT talent. This research summary explores evidence-based strategies for building and maintaining a skilled workforce. 

PDF Document"Talent Management in the Information Technology Sector" Research Summary

The value of homework has been debated for decades, but research suggests that the practice isn’t entirely “good” or “bad.” Rather, the impact depends on a variety of factors summarized in this review. 

PDF DocumentRead what the research says about homework