The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES). It serves as a central and trusted source for evidence-based information on educational programs, products, practices, and policies. The primary goal of the WWC is to provide educators, policymakers, and the public with high-quality, impartial, and up-to-date reviews of research on education interventions.

Key features of the What Works Clearinghouse include:

1. Systematic Reviews: The WWC conducts rigorous systematic reviews of research studies on various educational interventions. These reviews focus on determining the effectiveness of interventions across different domains, such as literacy, mathematics, science, and social-emotional learning.

2. Evidence Standards: The WWC applies stringent evidence standards to evaluate the quality and rigor of research studies. It categorizes interventions into different levels of evidence based on the strength of the research findings, ranging from "meets standards" to "does not meet standards."

3. Practice Guides: In addition to reviews of individual studies, the WWC produces practice guides that synthesize research findings and provide recommendations for educators and practitioners. These guides offer evidence-based strategies and practices for addressing specific educational challenges.

4. Intervention Reports: The WWC publishes intervention reports that provide detailed information on specific educational programs, products, or practices. These reports summarize the research evidence supporting the effectiveness of the intervention and provide practical guidance for implementation.

5. User-Friendly Website: The WWC maintains a user-friendly website that allows educators, policymakers, and researchers to easily access its resources. Users can search for interventions by topic, grade level, and other criteria, and they can view detailed reports and reviews.

Overall, the What Works Clearinghouse plays a crucial role in promoting evidence-based decision-making in education by providing reliable information on what works to improve student outcomes. Its work helps educators and policymakers make informed choices about selecting and implementing effective educational interventions.