Projects

The CREA team works with schools and districts in the state of Nevada and beyond, helping them assess and evaluate programs and initiatives designed to improve education. Here are a few current and past projects.

Supporting Black Student Achievement in Nevada: Opportunities for Growth

In collaboration with the Nevada Department of Education, CREA identified “pockets of excellence” in the state of Nevada, defined as schools experiencing marked growth in improving Black student achievement on the state’s standardized exams. We then conducted in-depth interviews with principals from 10 of those schools to understand evidence-based practices leveraged by school leaders to help improve Black student achievement.

Nevada Portrait of a Learner

CREA supports the Nevada Department of Education initiative, in partnership with Ed.Xtraordinary, Portrait of a Nevada Learner pilot program. School communities across Nevada begin to explore, align, and evolve best practices for learner-centered experiences, using the Portrait of a Nevada Learner as a roadmap.

Nevada’s Pupil-Centered Funding Plan

CREA provides evaluation services for the Nevada Department of Education’s evaluation of Nevada’s new education funding plan, the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan. The new plan collapses categorical funding programs (SB 178, Zoom, Victory, RBG3) into a weighted per-pupil funding formula.

CCSD Title I Evaluation: Innovative Middle Schools

CREA continues to support external evaluation efforts for Clark County School District programming in Title I schools.

First Nevada

CREA provides evaluation services to support FIRST Nevada. FIRST Nevada is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting FIRST ^® robotics programs and STEAM education initiatives in Nevada.

City of North Las Vegas

CREA supports the City of North Las Vegas ARPA-SLFRF-funded NLVCares community grant program. The NLVCares CHAP program has provided $4.5M to support housing and utility costs for North Las Vegas families in need.

Futuro Project: Teachers Transforming Nevada’s Children and Families

CREA provides evaluation services for the U.S. Department of Education-funded Futuro Project. In collaboration with scholars from Nevada State College, this research project efforts to provide evidence-based recommendations for teaching foundational reading skills, including increasing understanding of early childhood classrooms and teaching practices and improving the school readiness of EL children.

Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program)

CREA provides evaluation services for the National Science Foundation-funded research project, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions. In collaboration with scholars from UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada, the research project endeavors to enhance the quality of undergraduate STEM education and increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in STEM.

After-School All-Stars Las Vegas Program Evaluation

CREA provides evaluation services for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant-funded After-School All-Stars Las Vegas Program.

CCSD CORE Reading Program Evaluation

CREA provides evaluation of the implementation, outputs, and outcomes of CCSD’s core language and literacy development program during the 2022 – 23 school year.

CCSD Title I: Class Size Reduction Program Evaluation

In 2021-22, CREA served as the external evaluator for Clark County School District’s Class Size Reduction program in Title I schools.

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Volume IV

CREA leads the creation of Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Volume IV, which aims to provide evidence-based answers to Nevada’s most pressing education policy issues.

Developing the Skills and Will to Succeed in STEM

CREA served as an internal evaluator for the new Developing the Skills and Will to Succeed in STEM program at UNLV, designed to support 25 academically talented undergraduate biology students that have financial need.

The Nevada Educator Performance Framework

CREA provided evaluation services to the Nevada Department of Education and the Nevada Legislative Committee on Education regarding the impact and validity of the NEPF.

Las Vegas Scholars Program

CREA provided secondary assessment services for the NSF grant funded Las Vegas Scholars Program.

Transitions in Mathematics for Middle School (TIMMS)

CREA served as an external evaluator for the TIMMS project.

UNLV AeOP/RET Summer Program Evaluation

CREA served as an internal evaluator for a six-week long intensive STEM summer program for computer science and programming targeting middle and high school students that can be sponsored by the Department of Defense.

Nevada Department of Education External Outcomes Evaluation Phase One

In partnership with ACS Ventures and MYS Project & Brand Management, CREA completed an evaluation of programs designed to enhance education across the state of Nevada.

Nevada Department of Education External Outcomes Evaluation Phase Two

In partnership with ACS Ventures and MYS Project & Brand Management, CREA will provide the second phase of an evaluation of programs designed to enhance education across the state of Nevada.

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Values Five-Year Evaluation

CREA, with its faculty affiliates, completed an evaluation of the library services grant programs in the state of Nevada and how they met the goals and values outlined by the LSTA.