1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 | 202.403.5000 | TTY 877.334.3499 | www.air.org

[Letter Date]

[Recipient Name]

[Recipient Title]

[Recipient Street Address]

[Recipient City, ST Zip]

Dear [Salutation],

Thank you very much for agreeing to welcome staff members from the American Institutes for Research 

(AIR) to visit your classroom on [insert date]. We are very much looking forward to observing your class 

and learning more about how your school [provides extended learning time for Algebra I instruction or

provides algebra instruction that promotes conceptual understanding and procedural fluency].

The purpose of our study is to provide researchers, policymakers, administrators, and educators like 

yourself with information to promote student success in Algebra I. We are particularly interested in 

Algebra I because it is a gatekeeper course in that it is a prerequisite for subsequent high school 

mathematics and science courses considered essential for getting into college. So, it is an important 

stepping stone for success in high school and college. We selected [school name] because of your 

school’s approach to [providing extended time for Algebra I education or providing algebra instruction 

that promotes conceptual understanding and procedural fluency].

In preparation for our visit, I want to provide you with some additional information. First, as you know, 

we would like to observe your class, and we are hoping to find time to interview you briefly. Also, we 

would like to collect some basic information about the lesson we are observing. Additional information 

regarding the materials we would like to collect appears on the following page.

If you have any questions about our study, please do not hesitate to contact me at 202 403-5838 or 

kwalters@air.org.

Again, thank you for your participation in this important study. We very much appreciate your 

contributions.

Regards,

Kirk Walters

Study Director
Recipient

Month DD, YYYY

Page 2 of 2

1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 | 202.403.5000 | TTY 877.334.3499 | www.air.org

Instructions for Selection of Documents

To help us better understand the content of the Algebra I instruction (including the supplementary 

period of Algebra I instruction for struggling students) we would like to collect the following 

materials:

 A syllabus for the “regular” Algebra I class

 A syllabus for the supplementary Algebra I class 

 A lesson plan for the classes that the AIR team will observe and the lesson plan for the 

corresponding regular Algebra I course, if applicable.

 A lesson plan for linear functions (alternate: linear equations) for the regular Algebra I class

 A lesson plan for linear functions (alternate: linear equations) for the supplementary Algebra 

I class.

 A challenging assignment for linear functions (alternate: linear equations) for the regular 

Algebra I class

 A challenging assignment for linear functions (alternate: linear equations) for the 

supplementary Algebra I class.

Submission of data files/documents

Once you and your colleagues have gathered all the requested items, please forward them to your 

data collector. We would prefer electronic files when possible, but please send us the information in 

whatever form it is available.

Option 1: Electronic files. If you can readily email the files, please send them as attachments to 

kwalters@air.org while copying nsorensen@air.org. 

Option 2: Hard copy files. Hard copies could be sent a preprinted FedEx envelope that the team 

from AIR will provide to you.

If returning hard copy materials, please use the attached FedEx return envelope addressed 

to: 

Promoting Student Success in Algebra I

Dr. Kirk Walters, Project Director

American Institutes for Research (AIR)

1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW

Washington DC 20007

As a reminder, we will treat the information that you supply in a confidential manner. Only selected 

research staff will have access to data. We will NOT present results in any way that would permit 

them to be identified with you or any other specific individual. No personally identifiable information, 

such as name or district affiliation, will be disclosed to anyone outside the project.

Questions or concerns? Please call our toll-free number [1.800.XXX.XXXX] to contact an AIR data 

collector.

Thank you for your time and assistance.