Research
Effective practice and solutions must start with a solid foundation, which is why research and evaluation are the core of the Lastinger Center’s work.
The Lastinger Center serves as a trusted resource for independent educational research. Our studies drive decision making, inform policy and improve systems within Florida and national educational settings. The Lastinger team also constantly evaluates the efficacy of our programs to inform timely improvements to meet the needs of our participants.
Flamingo Early Learning Florida 2016-2020 Impact Report
The Lastinger Center conducted an analysis of the courses offered through the Early Learning Florida Program from 2016-2020. Learn More
Hillsborough Early Learning Network Y1 Pilot Evaluation
Hillsborough Early Learning Network provides a system of supports to early childhood educators and coaches in the Tampa area. Learn More
Flamingo Literacy Matrix Evaluations
We put our Flamingo Literacy Matrix professional development system through a series of internal and external research evaluations to understand its impact on teachers and students. Learn More
Increased Passing Rates for Re-Takers with Frequent Use over Multiple Years
A study was conducted to determine the impact of Algebra Nation on students who had previously failed the Florida Algebra 1 End-of-Course Exam. Learn More
Recommendations from an Evaluation of Florida’s Mathematics PD Landscape
A team from the Lastinger Center surveyed and interviewed secondary math educators from across Florida. Learn More
A Comparison Between Low-Usage and High-Usage Schools in Florida
An analysis of school-level Algebra Nation usage and student achievement in Algebra data was conducted to determine what differences exist in student performance in Florida during the 2014-2015 school year. Learn More
An Evaluation of Algebra Nation in South Carolina
A yearlong evaluation of Study Edge’s Algebra Nation use and its impact in South Carolina was conducted by an independent team of educators. Learn More
Analysis of Algebra Nation Usage and Student Achievement
Mississippi schools with high usage of Algebra Nation had an 8.6% higher pass rate on the State Algebra 1 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) test, according to an analysis of 82 schools in the state. Learn More
Instructor Presence Positively Impacts Learning
This study explored the impact of instructor presence on learning, visual attention and perceived learning in mathematics instructional videos of varying content difficulty. Learn More
Early Learning Performance Funding Project
The Florida Office of Early Learning contacted the Lastinger Center to evaluate a five-year pilot project designed to determine how specific teacher professional learning approaches impact children who attend school readiness programs. Learn More
Mapping Collier County: An Early Learning Systems Landscape Analysis
As part of the Future Ready Collier network, the Naples Children & Education Foundation partnered with the Lastinger Center and UF Anita Zucker Center. This collaboration resulted in a systems-wide early learning landscape analysis to better understand the early learning systems and support services available in Collier County, Florida. Learn More
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Florida’s Early Childhood Professional Development System
In 2011, Florida’s Office of Early Learning (now Division of Early Learning) commissioned the Lastinger Center to listen to the voices of stakeholders in the state’s early childhood professional development system and complete an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Learn More
Statewide Needs Assessment on the Demand, Supply and Quality of Early Learning Programs in Florida
In 2013, Florida’s State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care Florida Division of Early Learning commissioned the Lastinger Center in partnership with the UF Family Health Center to conduct a needs assessment to determine the supply, demand, and quality of early learning programs in Florida.
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Creating a Formula for Success: Recommendations from an Evaluation of Florida’s Mathematics Professional Development Landscape
In 2021, a team from the Lastinger Center surveyed and interviewed secondary math educators from across Florida to better understand the current state of available professional learning opportunities available. Learn More
Measure to Learn and Improve Study
The Measure to Learn and Improve study was a comprehensive research effort supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that assessed the impact of investments in education improvement.
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COVID-19 Virtual Listening Tour
In May 2020, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the Lastinger Center to conduct a virtual listening tour to understand how coronavirus impacted various aspects of education. Learn More
“All Over The Map” The Trauma-Informed Care Report
In 2019, the Lastinger Center developed an interactive map to geographically visualize trauma-informed programs and adverse childhood experiences in Florida.
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Lastinger 2018 Listening Tour Report
In 2018, Director Phil Poekert and leadership embarked on a 6-week Listening Tour of the birth through 12th grade education systems across Florida.
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Virtual Learning Lab
The Virtual Learning Lab (VLL) was a research collaboration between the University of Florida, University of Colorado-Boulder and Arizona State University to explore the potential for precision education in Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) to revolutionize teaching and learning. Learn More
DIsability Anti-buLlying Training (DIAL)
Students with or at-risk for disabilities are disproportionately affected by bullying in school. Through a partnership with Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D., at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Chad Rose, Ph.D., at the University of Missouri, our team developed a unique professional development program targeting K-5 educators’ roles in bullying prevention as a way to support increased academic achievement. Learn More
Preparatory Resource Officer Modules in Support of Educational Success (PROMISES)
With funding from the National Institute of Justice, and a partnership with Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D., we created a four-module professional development series for school staff to increase the effectiveness of resource officers.The modules address trauma informed care, social emotional learning, restorative problem solving and cultural competence. Learn More
Understanding Trauma and Social-Emotional Learning in Schools
This project evaluated an online professional development program for SSPs that provides education on two topics related to best practices in working with youth in K-12 school settings: trauma-informed care (TIC) and social–emotional learning. Learn New
Creating Online Professional Development for School Resource Officers
While most states do not require youth or school-related training for school resource officers (SROs), their presence is ever-increasing. Under the leadership of Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D., our team created four online professional development modules for SROs. Each module focuses on one of the following: trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning (SEL), restorative problem-solving and cultural competence. Learn More
Trauma Informed Care in Schools: Perspectives from School Resource Officers
Informed by the levels of ecological systems theory, three salient themes were identified by the researchers: how SSPs and SROs describe school climate, how they respond to students with traumatic experiences and how their perspectives may be affected by their differing roles. Learn More
Restorative Justice: A Qualitative Analysis of School Security Perspectives
Grounded in Restorative Justice theory, this study examines the perspectives of School Resource Officers (SROs) and other School Security Personnel (SSPs) during a professional development training on restorative-problem solving. Learn More
Gates Foundation Flamingo Nation Data Lagoon
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are initially integrating data from the Math Nation online platform and Flamingo Learning online professional development platform, where our flagship programs like Literacy Matrix and Math Matrix systems are housed, to form the Flamingo Nation Data Lagoon.
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Culturally Responsive Math Nation
In 2021, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation selected the Lastinger Center as a Balance the Equation Grand Challenge Grantee. With this grant, the team is building a math curriculum designed to promote student engagement, academic success and the development of positive math learner identities among Black and Latinx students. Learn More
Practice-Driven Professional Development for Algebra Teachers
Grounded in Restorative Justice theory, this study examines the perspectives of School Resource Officers (SROs) and other School Security Personnel (SSPs) during a professional development training on restorative-problem solving. Learn More