The term "evidence-based," when used with respect to a State, local educational agency, or school activity, means an activity, strategy, or intervention that:
- demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on:
- strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study - 8101(21)(A)(i)(I)
- or moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study - 8101(21)(A)(i)(II)
- or promising evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias - (8101)(21)(i)(III)
- or demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes - 8101(21)(A)(ii)(I)
- and includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention - 8101(21)(A)(ii)(II)
In July 2017, new interim final regulations were published, including the following details:
- studies must be relevant
- studies must have a link between the proposed activities, strategies, and interventions and specific statistically significant effects
- plans would have to ensure a faithful adaptation of the evidence
- districts or states may build and test their own interventions, but must submit the evaluator's qualifications and resources to be used for evaluation