2013 Research Centers
Utah Education Policy Center
The 2012-2013 year has been an exciting and productive one for the Utah Education
Policy Center (UEPC) in the College of Education. The UEPC continues to purposefully
develop our professional network and engage in rigorous, timely research with educational
leaders, schools, districts, community based organizations, and the state. Over the
past year, the UEPC has expanded its evaluation and research services to include the
development and administration of online satisfaction surveys that are being used
by local schools and districts as well as the Utah State Office of Education in its
educator effectiveness work. Additionally, WestEd has recently selected the UEPC
to serve as the external evaluator for their federally funded West Comprehensive Center.
The UEPC will conduct a five-year evaluation study of WestEd’s efforts to provide
technical assistance and build capacity of state offices of education in Arizona,
Nevada and Utah. The UEPC has also maintained research and evaluation work on programs
such as the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program, STEM enhancement at elementary
and secondary levels, teacher preparation and alternative routes to licensure, dual
language immersion, early intervention programs, and a Promise Neighborhood initiative,
among other initiatives. UEPC also continues to provide technical assistance to local
schools and districts to build leadership capacity as they progress through the school
improvement process.
The UEPC continued as the primary research partner with the Utah Data Alliance (UDA),
which provides vast opportunities for longitudinal research, analysis, and reporting.
The Utah Data Alliance is a collaboration of agencies in Utah that develops and maintains
Utah’s only comprehensive statewide longitudinal data system to enable examination
of educational progress and outcomes over time, from preschool, and K12 through postsecondary
public education and into the workforce.
The UEPC’s growing staff of research associates and graduate assistants continues
to bring experience, talent, and expertise to the work we do to influence quality
improvement in educational leadership, policies, and practices in Utah. The UEPC’s
Director, Andrea Rorrer, Ph. D., served as President of the University Council for
Educational Administration during the 2011-2012 year. Two new research associates,
Erica Orians and Amanda Taggart, joined the UEPC team this past year adding new dimensions
and expertise to our team. The UEPC is excited to continue working with other scholars
and practitioners as we expand our evaluation, research, and technical assistance
services to collectively bridge research, policy, and practice for Utah public schools
and higher education.