School Information and 
Research Service, Inc.

RCW 28A.320.110 authorizes school districts to become members of a non-profit organization whose principle purpose is to provide information on school organization, administration, operation, finance and instruction.

School Information and Research Service, Inc. membership is open to all public school districts, educational service districts, public educational management/leadership associations in the state of Washington. Currently, there are over 224 School Information and Research Service, Inc. members. The annual fee for school district membership is a sliding scale based on the school district's student population. Strategic planning and the use of technology enhance the services and promote efficiencies on an on-going basis.

RESEARCH SERVICES

Superintendents (or their designees) may call School Information and Research Service, Inc. and request research for education-related topics. A membership in School Information and Research Service, Inc. enables districts to save time, money, and staff effort while receiving information needed to make informed decisions. Some of the recent research topics included:

• Student discipline and absences
• Educational settings, curriculum and technology for delivering alternative education opportunities
• What do research and best practices say are the best models for curriculum, instruction and assessment for teaching high school physics?
• Evaluating block scheduling
• Socioeconomic level of families as it relates to K-12 school performance trends and successful interventions in reading, writing and math
• Religion in the schools
• Grade organization
• Freedom of expression
• Class size
• Cultural dress code policy for graduation
• Alternative assessments
• Individual learning plans for at-risk students

School Information and Research Service, Inc. resources include:

• Educational Research Service (ERS)
• LEGLink
• Northwest Regional Education Laboratories (NWREL)
• Surveys, data collection and analysis on key issues impacting K-12 education
• In-house library of educational magazines, books and publications
• Telephone directories for state, regional, and national offices

SALARY SURVEY AND BENEFIT DATA  

School Information and Research Service, Inc. annually compiles and publishes the most complete and timely salary benefit data available for administrators and classified personnel in Washington State. Whether you need to examine salaries for secretaries, bus drivers, business managers, superintendents or 48 other classified and administrative salaries across the state, the School Information and Research Service Salary Survey Report has the information. Only School Information and Research Service, Inc. members can access the online surveys, which are protected by individual district passwords. The reports allow members to create specialized reports, review benefits data and ascertain the  mean and median of any job description in the report.

Access the Salary Survey

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES

School Information and Research Service, Inc. provides valuable services relating to the governance, organization and financing of schools in Washington State. School Information and Research Service, Inc. maintains an up-to-date library of RCWs, WACs, bills, policies, reports and direct connections to government offices and agencies. 

PUBLICATIONS

School Information and Research Service, Inc. publications include:

Leadership Information is a quarterly research and information journal relating directly to the needs of educational leaders in Washington State. Each issue addresses a current concern or topic in education. Recent topics include:

• Fully Funding Washington's Public Schools (Summer 2007)
• Schools and Technology (Spring 2007)
• Teaching and Learning Mathematics, Part II (Winter 2007)
• Teaching and Learning Mathematics (Fall 2006)

Legislative Handbook
The School Information and Research Service, Inc. Legislative Handbook is an annual guide to the legislature. It provides information needed by educators to access people on the "hill" in Olympia. Pictorial directories, legislative district maps, committee  membership, caucus leadership, legislative staff, advocacy tips, sample letters and position papers from various education associations are included. An addendum is published every other year to provide information on any changes that occur during the two-year legislative cycle.

AMPLE SCHOOL FUNDING PROJECT

School Information and Research Service, Inc. was been instrumental in organizing and implementing the Washington State Ample School Funding Project. The project researched current K-12 funding system in Washington state and proposed remedies to amply fund a general and uniform system of K-12 finance designed to get all students to the state standards.

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

School districts receive copies of all printed publications based on FTE student enrollment. A district receives from one to 11 copies depending on district size. Non-School Information and Research Service, Inc. members may purchase copies of School Information and Research Service, Inc. publications. School Information and Research Service, Inc. members may purchase additional copies at a reduced price.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

2007-08 SCHOOL INFORMATION AND RESEARCH
SERVICE, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

School Information and Research Service, Inc. STAFF