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NEW EdWorkingPapers
Hold Harmless for Whom? The Impact of COVID Era Policies on School Funding, Teachers, and Students
This study evaluates the fiscal and academic consequences of New York City’s hold harmless policy during COVID-19, which aimed to stabilize school expenditures amid unexpected enrollment declines by restoring schools’ funding up to initial levels. We examine how school racial composition predicts whether or when schools receive hold harmless “treatment” and assess the impact of hold harmless… more →
Americans’ Attitudes about Political Neutrality in Public Schools
This paper presents the results of a study of Americans’ attitudes about political neutrality in public schools. Using data from a nationally representative survey conducted in March of 2025, I find that Americans across the political spectrum largely oppose schools attempting to promote either liberal or conservative viewpoints.
The Role of Education-Industry Match in College Earnings Premia
Many states incentivize college students to major in fields aligned with specific, often “in-demand” industries. While their goal is often to raise students’ labor market outcomes, little is known about whether matching one’s degree with an industry of work improves employment and earnings. We leverage a novel education-industry crosswalk applied to student and worker panel data covering over… more →
A randomized controlled trial of HighScope’s teacher professional learning on preschoolers' executive function skills
Teacher professional learning has been shown to promote children’s language, literacy, and social-emotional functioning - however, less is known about its impact on children’s executive function. In the present study, we employed a randomized controlled trial to understand whether HighScope’s teacher professional learning workshops and coaching can promote children’s executive function… more →
Unpacking the Long-Term Impact of Holistic Supports for Community College Students
This paper presents longer-term findings from a randomized controlled trial of One Million Degrees (OMD), a comprehensive support program for community college students in the Chicago metro area that provides financial, academic, personal, and professional assistance. Results from an initial evaluation found that an offer of a spot in the OMD program led to increased college enrollment,… more →
The Effect of Merit-Based Free Community College
Free community college is often promoted as a way to expand access and reduce student debt, but may have unintended consequences if it reduces bachelor’s degree completion for students diverted from better resourced four-year universities. By examining a meritbased free community college program in Chicago called the Star Scholarship, we identify the impact of free community college on a… more →
Policy and Practice Series
Webinar Series
The Bigger Picture: Key Trends in America’s Changing Education Landscape
Are the enrollment and achievement declines we’re seeing just pandemic fallout, or something deeper? The papers featured in this webinar provide essential context for evaluating common narratives about recent changes in student achievement and enrollment.