Overview
Lauren Wong specializes in quantitative methods and analysis, including multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, and propensity score analysis. Wong has extensive experience cleaning and analyzing large-scale state longitudinal data and designing and conducting large-scale survey studies. As a research associate of the Special Education Policy and Practice Research team, Wong helps states, districts, and other project partners design, implement, and evaluate interventions and policies.
Wong currently leads two national survey studies for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. In this role, she is the principal investigator, project manager, and survey methodologist. She is also co–principal investigator on a federal grant developing and evaluating an AI reading tutor. Additionally, she has written and contributed to numerous quarterly, annual, and final evaluation reports and engaged in extensive relationship building with WestEd clients and partners.
Before joining WestEd, Wong utilized academic interventions to meet the needs of all students (and students with learning disabilities in particular) using a response to intervention framework. As a former general and special education teacher, Wong is committed to helping states and districts meet the needs of all students.
Education
- PhD in special education with a minor in research and evaluation methodology, University of Florida
- MA in special education, University of Florida
- BA in elementary education, University of Florida
Select Publications
Wilson, S. E., Wiggins, J., Wong, L., Ulrich, T. G., Causey, W., Parra, J., Gage, N., & Blackorby, J. Furthering rural adoption of computers and technology through artistic lessons (FRACTAL) with students with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology.
Gage, N. A., Blackorby, J., Perie, M., Wong, L., Wilson, S. E., & Nagel, K. (under review). The state of alternate assessment research: A systematic literature review and policy analysis. Journal of Disability Policy Studies.
Wong, L. N., Griffin, C. C., & Gage, N. A. (2023). Linking response to intervention and identification of a specific learning disability. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10442073231205606
Griffin, C. C., Kwon, J. B., Apraiz, K., & Wong, L. N. (2021). Creating opportunities for struggling mathematics learners in inclusive schools. In J. McLeskey, F. Spooner, B. Algozzine, & N. L. Waldron (Eds.), Handbook of effective inclusive elementary schools (2nd ed., pp. 221–244). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003043874-11
