Muchas naciones del mundo han puesto la preocupación por la calidad de los aprendizajes – y las oportunidades educativas que posibilitan esa calidad – a la vanguardia de sus políticas educativas. Para lograr tal objetivo, se emplean una gran variedad de herramientas en políticas educativas. Pero estas políticas no siguen un modelo exclusivo, jerárquico y tradicional. No siguen, por tanto, el modelo clásico basado en un Gobierno autoritario que dirige la implementación de las políticas procurando que todas las instancias ejecutoras se adhieran a un patrón único definido a nivel central.

No sólo se están empleando acciones gubernamentales oficiales de parte de los estados nacionales en materias como currículos, estándares y regímenes de evaluación, -- también las políticas educativas apuestan por involucrar una amplia red de actores que no forman parte del gobierno central compuesta por agencias y organizaciones públicas y privadas, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, agencias internacionales de cooperación para el desarrollo, y colaboraciones entre los sectores públicos y privados y – además de las mismas escuelas y sus comunidades.

Los problemas que devienen de esta compleja interacción de agencias, organizaciones, actores e instrumentos en política educativa son muy diferentes de aquellos que están vinculados con los modelos jerárquicos o centralizados de gobierno tradicionales. Por el contrario, los nuevos retos requieren que se logre una fusión entre la teoría y los métodos de investigación que den cuenta, por un lado, de la naturaleza y roles del Estado-Nación contemporáneos, su relación con las redes globales de organizaciones inter gubernamentales y de cooperación internacional, así como diversos actores públicos y privados, domésticos e internacionales y, por otro lado, la relación entre estos grupos de actores, sus agendas y la necesidad de guiar las complejas estructuras de acción social conocidas que son los sistemas educativos.

En ese sentido, deseo que mi investigación contribuya resolver los fascinantes desafíos teóricos, metodológicos y prácticos derivados de estos problemas. Desde esta perspectiva, mi investigación se desarrolla sobre la base de tres corrientes interrelacionadas:

1. Un trabajo periódico con data proveniente del Tercer Estudio Internacional de Matemáticas y Ciencias (Third International Mathematics and Science Study – TIMSS), con información relacionada principalmente a cómo los instrumentos de política curricular promueven y a la vez restringen las oportunidades educativas.
    
2. Estudios acerca del rol de la cooperación internacional en promover y reforzar las políticas educativas en América Latina y el Caribe.
    
3. Investigaciones de políticas de gobierno en el ámbito curricular como componente esencial de las estrategias en reforma educativa – poniendo atención especial a cómo estas políticas ayudan a promover (o no) oportunidades de aprendizaje en la educación primaria y secundaria.

Books (S= Spanish)

Valverde, Gilbert A., Leonard J. Bianchi, William H. Schmidt, Curtis C McKnight, and Richard G. Wolfe. 2002. According To the Book: Using TIMSS To Investigate The Translation Of Policy Into Practice In The World Of Textbooks. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
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Articles and book contributions (R = refereed, I = invited)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 2004. Curriculum Convergence In Chile: The Global And Local Context Of Reforms In Curriculum Policy. Comparative Education Review 48 (2): 174-201. (R)

Valverde, Gilbert A. (accepted for publication, fall 2004) Curriculum Policy Seen through High-Stakes Examinations: Mathematics And Biology In A Selection Of School-Leaving Examinations from the Middle East and North Africa. Peabody Journal of Education 79 (4). (R)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 2003. La política en evaluación y currículo ante el desafío de la calidad: Tendencias mundiales y casos de los Países Bajos y los Estados Unidos (Testing And Curriculum Policy And The Challenge Of Quality: World Trends And Case Studies From The Netherlands And The United States). In La experiencia internacional en sistemas de medición: Estudios de casos. Santiago, Chile: Comisión para el Desarrollo y Uso del Sistema de Medición de la Calidad de la Educación. (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 2002. Curriculum: International. In The Encyclopedia of Education (Second Edition), edited by James W. Guthrie. New York: Macmillan Reference. (I)
Valverde, Gilbert A. 2001. La política educativa peruana y las evaluaciones educacionales internacionales (Peruvian Educational Policy and International Educational Evaluations). Crecer - Revista de la Unidad de Medición de la Calidad, Ministerio de Educación, 2: 10-12. (I / S)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 2000. Strategic Themes In Curriculum Policy Documents: An Exploration Of TIMSS Curriculum Analysis Data. International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Practice 1 (2): 133-151. (R)

Valverde, Gilbert A. and William H. Schmidt. 2000. Greater Expectations: Learning From Other Countries In The Quest For World-Class Standards In US School Mathematics And Science. Journal of Curriculum Studies 32 (5): 651-687. (R)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 2000. La interpretación justificada y el uso apropiado de los resultados de las mediciones (The Correct Interpretation and Appropriate Use of the Results of Educational Measurements). In Los Próximos Pasos: ¿Hacia Dónde y Cómo Avanzar en la Evaluación de Aprendizajes en América Latina? (Next Steps: Where and How to Advance in the Assessment of Learning in Latin America), edited by Pedro Ravela. Lima, Perú: GRADE/Preal. (I / S)

Valverde, Gilbert A., and Martín Benavides A. 2000. Análisis de Contenido de Evaluaciones Nacionales de Factores Asociados al Logro Académico en América Latina. (A Content Analysis of National Evaluations of Factors Associated with Academic Achievement in Latin America) Lima, Perú: GRADE/PREAL. (I / S)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1999. Xenophobia Or Xenodochia? Myths And Lessons In A Recent Cross-National Study Of Mathematics And Science Achievement. The AASA Professor 22 (3): 1-7. (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1999. Democracy, Human Rights, and Development Assistance for Education: The USAID and World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean. Economic Development and Cultural Change 47 (2): 401-419. (R)

McKnight, Curtis C., and Gilbert A. Valverde. 1999. Explaining TIMSS Mathematics Achievement: A Preliminary Survey In International Comparisons in Mathematics Education, edited by Gabriele Kaiser, Eduardo Luna and Ian Huntley, 48-67. London: Falmer Press. (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A.1998. Evaluation and Curriculum Standards in an Era of Educational Reforms. In Evaluation and Education Reform: Policy Options, edited by Benjamín Álvarez and Mónica Ruiz-Casares, 61-92. Washington DC: U.S. Agency for International Development. (I) (English version of Spanish-language contribution in subsequent reference)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1997. Evaluación y Estándares de Currículo. In Evaluación y Reforma Educativa: Opciones de Política, edited by Benjamín Álvarez and Mónica Ruiz-Casares, 67-102. Washington DC: U.S. Agency for International Development. (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A., and William H. Schmidt. Winter 1997-98. Refocusing U.S. Math and Science Education. Issues in Science and Technology: 60-66. (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1997. Las políticas educativas nacionales y la participación en estudios internacionales” (National Educational Policies and Participation in International Studies). In Avaliação e Determinação de Padrões na Educação Latino-Americana: Realidades e Desafios, edited by Helena Bomeny. Rio da Janeiro: Fundação Getulio Vargas: 9-15. (S / I)

Valverde, Gilbert A. and Curtis C. McKnight. 1997. Importancia del Currículo y Algunos Temas Comunes en la Reforma de la Educación Matemática y Científica a Nivel Internacional. (Importance of Curriculum Standards and Some Common International Themes in Mathematics and Science Education Reform) Formas y Reformas de la Educación PREAL. 3 (1): 31-38. (S / I)

Schmidt, William H., Gilbert A. Valverde, Curtis C. McKnight and Edward D. Britton. 1996 Étude internationale des curricula. Description d’un système de mesure complet du curriculum formel. (The International Study of Curriculum. Description of a System of Measures of the Intended Curriculum) Revue Internationale de l ‘éducation - Sèvres 12: 119-133. (R / French)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1995. United States. In International Encyclopedia of National Systems of Education (Second Edition), edited by T. Neville Postlethwaite, 1033-41. London: Pergamon Press. (Invited contribution, adaptation of article cited below) (I)

Valverde, Gilbert A. 1994. United States: System of Education. In International Encyclopedia of Education (Second Edition), edited by Thorsten Husén and T. Neville Postlethwaite, 6538-47. London: Pergamon Press. (I)

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Article under review

Donor-Recipient Relations in Education Assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean: The World Bank and US AID, 1960-1990. (Submitted to: Compare).

In development (titles tentative)

Opportunities To Learn Through Cross-National Research: A Review Of The Literature (intended for Review of Education Research).

Learning And Opportunity: A Model For A Longitudinal Study Of Primary Education In The Dominican Republic (intended for International Journal of Educational Development).

Explaining Learning In Latin America: National Assessments And Their Potential Contributions To Policy Formation And Evaluation (intended for International Review of Education).

RESEARCH FUNDING

Monitoring and Evaluation of Educational Opportunities and Learning in USAID Sponsored Projects in the Dominican Republic. Program Office for Education, United States Agency for International Development. Valverde as Principal Investigator. 4 –year grant for longitudinal study of learning and educational opportunities. $ 1.8 million, November 2003 to November 2007.

Initial Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Study for USAID Projects in The Dominican Republic. Program Office for Education, United States Agency for International Development. Valverde as Principal Investigator. 5-month preliminary research and development grant for one semester support for full-time graduate assistant: $16,272.00 May 31 to October 31, 2003.

Building Scholarship on Higher Education Policy: A Global Approach. Ford Foundation program support for Comparative and International Policy Program (CIEPP), $250,000.00. [co-investigator, with A. Wagner (PI), D. Levy, and H-D. Meyer]. Grant is for development of three research and teaching strands within CIEPP, Valverde work on Accountability strand. 2002 - 2005.

Measuring Structures of Curriculum Governance in Latin America, Faculty Research Awards Program – Category A, The Research Foundation of the State University of New York, $9,800.00. 1999-2000.

Updating dataset on USAID and World Bank Group assistance to Latin American Education, International Theme Group Seed Grant, College of Education, Michigan State University, $3000.00, 1997.

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PH.D. DISSERTATION

International Development Assistance for Education: An Exploratory Study of Three Decades of World Bank and USAID Project Assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean. [Dissertation committee: John E. Craig (Chair), Anthony S. Bryk, Robert Dreeben, and Kenneth K. Wong]

REVIEWER FOR

Educational Evaluation and Policy Studies (2 articles)

Comparative Education Review (4 articles)

International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Practice (4 articles)

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PAPERS PRESENTED (I = INVITED, R= REFEREED, S= SPANISH)

“The Impact of Cross-National Achievement Studies on National Educational Policies: The Case of the TIMSS and the USA" at the XI National Coordinator’s Meeting of the UNESCO Latin American Laboratory for the Evaluation of Educational Quality, Panama City, Panama, April 2002. (I / S)

“The Responsibilities of Curriculum Policy in Rising to the Challenge of Educational Quality" at the International Seminar on Standards and Educational Evaluation, Lima, Perú, October 2001. (I / S)

“Conceptual Prerequisites for Studying the Effects of Curriculum on Learning" at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2000. (R)

“School Mathematics and Science by the Book: A Study of textbooks in 38 nations" at the Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Toronto, Canada, April 1999. (R)

“Different Sources of Variation: The Influence of School, Class and Individual Effort on Achievement Scores" at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada, April 1999. (R)

“Approaching the Integrated Study of the Functioning of Educational Systems" at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada, April 1999. (R)

"The Architecture of Textbooks: Cross-National Variation in the Organization of Intended Educational Opportunities" at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada, April 1999. (R)

"Characterizing U.S. Pedagogy through the Third International Mathematics and Science Study." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, California, April 1998. (R)

"Greater Expectations: Learning from other nations in the quest for world-class standards in mathematics and science education" at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, California, April 1998. (R)

"The Architecture of Textbooks: Cross-national variation in the organization of intended educational opportunities." at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Buffalo, New York, March 1998. (R)

"Investigating Instructional Practices: Methodological Considerations." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois, March 1997. (R)

"Item Topic Clusters: An Approach to Solving the Validity Dilemma in Cross-National Assessments." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois, March 1997. (R)

"Innovations in Curriculum-Sensitive Evaluation and Cross-National Studies of Educational Policy." at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Mexico City, Mexico, March 1997. (R)

"Science Education Policy in TIMSS Countries." at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Mexico City, Mexico, March 1997. (R)

"Surveying Mathematics and Science Opportunities to Learn: An Introduction to Curriculum Analysis." at the Eighth Meeting of the International Conference of Mathematics Education (ICME), Seville, Spain, July 1996. (R)

"Envisioning Curriculum-Sensitive Studies of Educational Systems: Implications of the TIMSS Model for Future Research." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, New York, April 1996. (R)

"Measuring the Intended Curriculum: Textbooks and the Implementable Curriculum." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, New York, April 1996. (R)

"Curriculum-Sensitive Studies of Educational Systems: Implications of the TIMSS Model for Future Large-Scale Comparative Research." at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Williamsburg, Virginia, March 1996. (R)

"Democratization, Human Rights, and Development Assistance for Education: The US AID and World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean." at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Williamsburg, Virginia, March 1996. (R)

"Cross-national and Regional Variations in Mathematics and Science Curricula." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, California, April 1995. (R)

"International Development Assistance for Education: Report from a Study of Three Decades of World Bank and USAID Project Assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean." at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Boston, Massachusetts, April 1995. (R)

"Studying the World's Curricula in Mathematics and the Sciences." at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Boston, Massachusetts, April 1995. (R)

"Cross-National Patterns in the Treatment of Topics in Measurement and Data Analysis: A Comparison Between Mathematics and the Science Education." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1994. (R)

"Measurement of Content Coverage Goals and Opportunity to Learn." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1994. (R)

"International Curriculum Analysis." at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, San Diego, California, March 1994. (R)

"World Bank and USAID Assistance for Education: An Exploration of Funds Awarded to Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean from 1960 to 1990." at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, San Diego, California, March 1994. (R)

"Modified Topic Trace Mapping." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1993. (R)

"Designing Measures of Mathematics and Science Curriculum, Learning Opportunities, and Instructional Practices for TIMSS: The Survey of Mathematics and Science Opportunities (SMSO)." at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1993. (R)

"Issues in the Comparative Study of Curricula." at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society, Kingston, Jamaica, March 1993. (R)

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