Research Projects
The research projects division has responsibility for coordinating all research projects initiated by the center. These will typically be applied projects that are directly focused on providing information that can be used by Florida's educators for improving reading instruction to all students. Examples of projects that have been supported in the past by this office were a large-scale multi-variate study of individual differences in performance on the reading portion of the FCAT, and evaluation of intensive reading interventions with high schools students in Polk county. Examples of ongoing projects include an evaluation of interventions for high school struggling readers being conducted in Seminole county, a study of progress monitoring measures that may be appropriate for use in grades 4-12, and the development of evidence-based training for principals Florida's Reading First schools. The research division also has responsibility for collecting, collating, and reporting information relative to the evaluation of Reading First outcomes in Florida.
Director
Yaacov Petscher, M.S., M.S.
Mr. Petscher is an experienced data analyst and researcher in education. He has responsibility for directing a number of center based research projects, and applying advanced statistical models to examine the relationships among student outcome variables.