Hanover Research’s Commitment to Our K-12 Partners – 2015 Research Service Updates

At Hanover Research, we are committed to providing quality service and investing to attract and retain the highest quality talent. We also continue to leverage the most dynamic and cutting edge platforms to present our analyses — helping schools and districts better visualize, model, and interpret report data.

METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Peer Benchmarking

We take the guesswork out of peer identification. Hanover’s Peer Similarity Index generates statistically precise lists of national, regional, and local peer school districts. Derived from a database of over 10,000 U.S. public school districts, our peer identification model includes district characteristics, geographic and economic indicators, and data from high-level revenue and expenditure streams. This model presents our partners with a validated list of peer districts to use in benchmarking performance and identifying effective instructional, operational, and administrative strategies.

Program Evaluation

We have expanded the scope of our program evaluation capabilities nationwide. Hanover’s The number of
program evaluations partners commissioned Hanover to execute increased significantly from 2013 to
2014, with 60 percent of these projects including a data analysis component. From examining the impact of
state policies like Texas’ House Bill 5, to evaluating purchased and “home-grown” intervention programs, to
assessing one-to-one technology programs and programs for English Language Learners, our evaluations
cover a wide range of topics, areas, and organizations.
As a full-service, custom research firm, Hanover constantly strives to refine our methodologies within the
core capabilities of data analysis, secondary research, survey analysis, and primary research. A sample of the
research methodologies we frequently employ are represented below.RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

TALENT INVESTMENTS

We continue to build a robust team of thought leaders and research innovators — helping us earn recognition from the Washington Business Journal as the D.C. area’s 16^th fastest growing company of 2014. As we have grown, we have also deepened our commitment to quality and innovation and invested additional resources to attract and retain the highest quality talent.

• In 2014, we created a new research team focused exclusively on serving our K-12 partners.
• We expanded our team of education-focused primary researchers. These analysts focus exclusively on securing in-depth interviews with peer districts and education experts.
• 83 percent of quantitative analysts hired in 2014 hold doctoral degrees in a quantitative field, while 100 percent of quantitative analysts hired over the last two years hold advanced degrees — a testament to the excellence of Hanover’s data solutions.

SERVICE DEDICATION

We are committed to delivering the highest quality service, and we have the track record to prove it. In addition to growing our analyst teams, we nearly doubled the size of our account management team in 2014. Our investment in client service allows for closer relationships between our partners and their dedicated points of contact at Hanover.

For over ten years, Hanover has provided hundreds of organizations in the education sector with custom research solutions to help address their most pressing challenges. Learn how Hanover’s methodological advancements, business investments, and dedication to service can further the initiatives of your school or district by contacting info@hanoverresearch.com.