General
What is the WWC?
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of the WWC is promote informed education decision making by providing educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence about “what works” in education. The work of the WWC is done under contract to the Department of Education (via the National Center of Education Evaluation at IES) by several firms with expertise in education, research methodology, and dissemination.
How is the WWC useful?
To help all students and schools meet high standards, educators need more evidence of what works in education. Currently, few resources help education decision makers separate high-quality research from weaker research and promotional claims. Through systematic reviews to identify rigorous research, the WWC provides educators with credible and reliable evidence that they can use to make informed decisions.
What are the WWC definitions of topic and intervention?
A topic is a general area of educational focus. It can be defined by its intended outcome (such as improving reading skills), the intended population (such as English language learners), and the types of interventions (such as education technology) that may improve outcomes. Interventions are programs (such as whole school reform), products (such as a textbook or curriculum), practices (such as mixed-age grouping), or policies (such as class size reduction). The glossary defines topic, intervention, and many other terms.
What topics has the WWC reviewed?
The WWC has reviewed research in a wide range of educational topics. Thus far, the WWC has focused primarily on K–12 topics, but it is expanding its coverage into postsecondary education. WWC reviews have been conducted in 14 topic areas (below), and products that cover research on multiple topic areas are cross-listed under each keyword. Some topic areas are currently inactive and might be revisited in future years, while others are ongoing. For details, read more about Topics in Education reviewed by the WWC. To find the topics covered by a specific set of products (for instance, practice guides), see the specific product on the Publications and Reviews page.
WWC topic areas:
How can I find interventions that address my school or district’s needs?
Using our site, you can “find what works” in education. You can create reports that identify interventions that the WWC has reviewed by topic. The results list the interventions that apply to the search in a table that includes the improvement index, effectiveness rating, and extent of evidence for each intervention, along with the research context for the findings and a brief description of the intervention. The results can be further refined by grade, special population, delivery method, or program type, or limited to only those interventions showing evidence of effectiveness.
Does the WWC recommend interventions or maintain a list of programs with scientifically-based evidence?
No, the WWC does not recommend or endorse interventions or maintain a list of acceptable programs. The WWC assesses evidence on the effectiveness of educational interventions. For example, a WWC rating of "positive effects" for an intervention means there is strong evidence of a positive effect with no contrary evidence. It does not mean that the WWC recommends that users implement that intervention or that it will work in all settings for all students. Consideration of other factors, such as target population, cost, and feasibility may also be necessary. It is also important to note that, for some educational interventions, little or no research exists which meets WWC standards.
Does the WWC offer printed materials?
No, the WWC offers publications only in electronic format on our website. All WWC publications are in the public domain, and you are free to download them from the website to print copies. If you have difficulty downloading documents from our website, please contact us for assistance.
Where should I go for information on a topic or intervention if the WWC has not reviewed it?
An additional resource from IES, the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program, may be able to offer you further assistance. The program is a network of ten laboratories that provides access to high quality, scientifically valid education research and offers technical assistance. To contact the REL in your region, please visit their website at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/ and look at the map provided to identify your region’s REL. Below the map, you’ll see a list of the regions with each REL’s email address and phone number. If you would like assistance in identifying the REL that serves your state, please contact us.
You can contact us to suggest a topic or intervention that you would like to see covered by the WWC.
How can I stay up-to-date on the latest additions to the WWC website?
There are several options: you can subscribe to the IES NewsFlash, an e-mail-based alert service designed to inform you about all new content posted to the WWC website, subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on What’s New on the WWC website, and visit the News & Events page on the WWC website.
How can I contact or find more information about the WWC?
You may contact the WWC by submitting the contact us form or via phone at (866) 503-6114. If you have specific questions about the WWC or its reviews, please use the form to describe your questions. Certain types of inquiries, such as author or developer concerns regarding WWC reviews, are handled only in writing (which includes email).