EdWorkingPapers
Teaching Teachers to Use Computer Assisted Learning Effectively: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Evidence
… Mastery learning – the process by which students must demonstrate proficiency … single topic before moving on – is well recognized as one of the best ways to learn, yet many teachers struggle or … to encourage greater mastery learning through technology and proactive continuous teacher support. Focusing on …Mastery learning – the process by which students must demonstrate proficiency with a single topic before moving on – is well recognized as one of the best ways to learn, yet many teachers struggle or remain unsure about how to implement it into a classroom setting. This study leverages two field experiments to test the efficacy of a program designed to encourage greater mastery learning… more →
Sibling Spillovers and Free Schooling
… measure sibling spillovers on academic performance before and after the introduction of Free Secondary Education (FSE) in Tanzania. Prior to FSE, …We use administrative data to measure sibling spillovers on academic performance before and after the introduction of Free Secondary Education (FSE) in Tanzania. Prior to FSE, students whose older siblings narrowly passed the secondary school entrance exam were less likely to go to secondary school themselves; with FSE, the effect became positive. A triple-differences analysis, using… more →
Efficiency or Burnout? The Effects of Condensed Course Formats on Student Achievement in Community Colleges
… While they offer greater flexibility, concerns remain that the accelerated pace may compromise learning. Using … college system, we provide the first large-scale evidence of their effects on students’ immediate and downstream outcomes. Leveraging a two-way fixed effects …Condensed courses—those that compress instructional content into a shorter time frame—are increasingly popular in higher education. While they offer greater flexibility, concerns remain that the accelerated pace may compromise learning. Using administrative data from a state community college system, we provide the first large-scale evidence of their effects on students’ immediate and… more →
Can States Sustain and Replicate School District Improvement? Evidence from Massachusetts
… examines school districtwide turnaround reforms beyond the first few years of implementation or efforts to replicate successes in new … district that led to academic gains in early reform years, and where state leaders attempted to replicate this success …Limited scholarship examines school districtwide turnaround reforms beyond the first few years of implementation or efforts to replicate successes in new contexts. We study Massachusetts, home to a state takeover of the Lawrence district that led to academic gains in early reform years, and where state leaders attempted to replicate this success in three additional communities. We use… more →
How Does Early Achievement Predict Within-Year Student Mobility? Longitudinal Evidence from Missouri
… for student outcomes, yet little is known regarding the predictors of within-year mobility. In particular, research has yet to … link by examining longitudinal 3rd – 8th grade student- and school-level data. We conducted (1) random effect panel …Student mobility that occurs within a school year may be especially disruptive for student outcomes, yet little is known regarding the predictors of within-year mobility. In particular, research has yet to comprehensively examine the role of student achievement in predicting within-year student mobility. Thus, we sought to understand this link by examining longitudinal 3rd – 8th grade student… more →
Return on Investment or Ripoff? Examining the Returns to New Master’s Degree Programs
… created more than 14,000 new master’s degree programs in the last two decades, and much of this is likely driven by an effort to increase …Universities have created more than 14,000 new master’s degree programs in the last two decades, and much of this is likely driven by an effort to increase institutional revenues during challenging financial times. But this expansion in graduate education creates a risk that these new programs fail to generate a return on investment to students or taxpayers. We examined student debt and debt-… more →
Beyond School Police Officers: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Exposure to a Fuller Range of School Disciplinary Personnel
… Using data from the 2017–18 and 2020–21 Civil Rights Data … Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Exposure to a Fuller Range of School Disciplinary Personnel …Using data from the 2017–18 and 2020–21 Civil Rights Data Collection, we document dis-parities in exposure to disciplinary staff across US high schools and geographic levels. Black and Hispanic students are exposed to 1.1 and 0.8 more disciplinary personnel than White students, respectively, which is equivalent to roughly twice the total average expo-sure to disciplinary personnel in high… more →
The Long-Term Effect of North Carolina’s Pre-Kindergarten Program is Larger in School Districts with Lower Rates of Growth in Academic Achievement
… Pre-K—generated positive effects on student reading and math achievement through eighth grade (Bai et al., 2020). This study examined whether the effect of NC Pre-K funding exposure is moderated by the educational …Prior research has found that public investments in North Carolina’s pre-kindergarten program—NC Pre-K—generated positive effects on student reading and math achievement through eighth grade (Bai et al., 2020). This study examined whether the effect of NC Pre-K funding exposure is moderated by the educational environments children subsequently experience during elementary and middle school.… more →
Spillover Effects of Specialized High Schools
… way to prepare young adults for postsecondary experiences and expand school choice. While much literature ex- amines charter school spillover effects and the effects of specialized schools on the students who attend them, …Specialized high schools are an increasingly popular way to prepare young adults for postsecondary experiences and expand school choice. While much literature ex- amines charter school spillover effects and the effects of specialized schools on the students who attend them, little is known about the spillover effects of specialized high schools on traditional public schools (TPS). Using an… more →
Experimental Evidence of the Impact of Re-Enrollment Campaigns on Long-Term Academic Outcomes
… previously successful non-completers to re-enroll and eventually graduate, a growing number of community colleges have implemented re-enrollment … completion. Although we showed in earlier work that the “information and one-course waiver” treatment had a …Most students who begin at a community college do not complete their desired credential. Many former students fail to graduate due to various barriers rather than their academic performance. To encourage previously successful non-completers to re-enroll and eventually graduate, a growing number of community colleges have implemented re-enrollment campaigns focused on former students who have… more →
Do Grow-Your-Own Programs Work? Evidence from the Teacher Academy of Maryland
… is a prominent strategy to address workforce shortages and ensure that incoming teachers resemble, understand, and … have strong connections to their communities. We exploit the staggered rollout of the Teacher Academy of Maryland career and technical …Local teacher recruitment through “grow-your-own” programs is a prominent strategy to address workforce shortages and ensure that incoming teachers resemble, understand, and have strong connections to their communities. We exploit the staggered rollout of the Teacher Academy of Maryland career and technical education certificate program across public high schools, finding that exposed students… more →
Access to Ethnic Studies in California Public Schools
… new graduation requirement beginning in 2029-30. Data from the California Department of Education and the University of California Office of the President …We examine access to high school Ethnic Studies in California, a new graduation requirement beginning in 2029-30. Data from the California Department of Education and the University of California Office of the President indicate that roughly 50 percent of public high school students in 2020-21 attend a school that offers Ethnic Studies or a related course, but as of 2018-19, only 0.2 percent… more →
Teacher Preparation, Classroom Structure, and Learning Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
… Ample research investigates returns to teacher preparation and other instructional inputs for the general student population, yet evidence is lacking for … returns to teacher preparation by classroom type and level of classroom support for SWDs. I find that SWDs perform …Ample research investigates returns to teacher preparation and other instructional inputs for the general student population, yet evidence is lacking for students with disabilities (SWDs). This study uses North Carolina data to estimate achievement returns to teacher preparation by classroom type and level of classroom support for SWDs. I find that SWDs perform better when placed in inclusive… more →
The impact of federal administrative burdens on college enrollment
… programs impose eligibility requirements to balance the goals of improving welfare while minimizing waste. We study the … … Oded Gurantz … Yung-Yu Tsai … Policy, Politics, and Governance … Post-secondary education … Higher education …Government programs impose eligibility requirements to balance the goals of improving welfare while minimizing waste. We study the impact of eligibility monitoring in the context of Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions, where students may be subject to “verification” requirements that require them to confirm the accuracy of the data. Using a matching on observables… more →
Leaving to Fit In: School Leadership, Peer Teacher Relationships, and Turnover Among Teachers of Color in New York City
… Disparate turnover among teachers of color remains a persistent educational challenge, yet little research explores the link between school leadership, peer teaching staff, and turnover disparities. This study explores whether …Disparate turnover among teachers of color remains a persistent educational challenge, yet little research explores the link between school leadership, peer teaching staff, and turnover disparities. This study explores whether principal and peer teacher demographics predict teacher turnover in New York City, and whether they do so differently for teachers of color. We find teachers are less… more →
Impact Evaluations of Teacher Preparation Practices: Challenges and Opportunities for More Rigorous Research
… teacher education researchers have expressed concerns with the lack of rigorous impact evaluations of teacher preparation … relate to issues of internal validity, external validity, and measurement. I then assess the prevalence of these issues …Many teacher education researchers have expressed concerns with the lack of rigorous impact evaluations of teacher preparation practices. I summarize these various concerns as they relate to issues of internal validity, external validity, and measurement. I then assess the prevalence of these issues by reviewing 166 impact evaluations of teacher preparation practices published in peer-reviewed… more →
Effective teacher professional development: new theory and a meta-analytic test
… meta-analyses have now documented small positive effects of teacher professional development (PD) on pupil test scores. However, the field lacks any validated explanatory account of what … at developing teachers’ insights, goals, techniques, and practice. We test two important implications of the …Multiple meta-analyses have now documented small positive effects of teacher professional development (PD) on pupil test scores. However, the field lacks any validated explanatory account of what differentiates more from less effective in-service training. As a result, researchers have little in the way of advice for those tasked with designing or commissioning better PD. We set out to remedy… more →
The Effects of Middle School Remediation on Postsecondary Success: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Florida
… High school graduation rates in the United States are at an all-time high, yet many of these graduates are deemed not ready for postsecondary … enter college. This study examines the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of remedial courses in middle school …High school graduation rates in the United States are at an all-time high, yet many of these graduates are deemed not ready for postsecondary coursework when they enter college. This study examines the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of remedial courses in middle school using a regression discontinuity design. While the short-term test score benefits of taking a remedial course in… more →
Parent Engagement Interventions are Not Costless: Opportunity Cost and Crowd Out of Parental Investment
… to engage in their child’s education as if parental time and attention is limitless. Sadly, though, it is … A randomized field experiment ( N = 2,212) assessed the impact of an intervention in which parents of middle and high school …Many educational interventions encourage parents to engage in their child’s education as if parental time and attention is limitless. Sadly, though, it is not. Successfully encouraging certain parental investments may crowd out other productive behaviors. A randomized field experiment (N = 2,212) assessed the impact of an intervention in which parents of middle and high… more →
The Effect of Immigration Enforcement on School Engagement: Evidence from 287(g) Programs in North Carolina
… During the past fifteen years, immigration enforcement increased … effects onto U.S. citizens. I examine the impacts of a type of partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement, …During the past fifteen years, immigration enforcement increased dramatically in the U.S. interior. There is a growing recognition that immigration enforcement in the U.S. interior has spillover effects onto U.S. citizens. I examine the impacts of a type of partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement, 287(g) programs, on school engagement within… more →
Teacher Effects on Student Achievement and Height: A Cautionary Tale
… Estimates of teacher “value-added” suggest teachers vary substantially … student learning. Prompted by this finding, many states and school districts have adopted value-added measures as … job performance. In this paper, we conduct a new test of the validity of value-added models. Using administrative …Estimates of teacher “value-added” suggest teachers vary substantially in their ability to promote student learning. Prompted by this finding, many states and school districts have adopted value-added measures as indicators of teacher job performance. In this paper, we conduct a new test of the validity of value-added models. Using administrative student data from New York City, we apply… more →
The Next Generation of State Reforms to Improve their Lowest Performing Schools: An Evaluation of North Carolina’s School Transformation Initiative
… In contrast to prior federally mandated school reforms, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows states more … schools, removes requirements to disrupt the status quo, and does not allocate substantial additional funds. Using a … appears to have been voluntary rather than the result of strategic staffing decisions. … school reform, school …In contrast to prior federally mandated school reforms, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows states more discretion in reforming their lowest performing schools, removes requirements to disrupt the status quo, and does not allocate substantial additional funds. Using a regression discontinuity design, we evaluate a state turnaround initiative aligned with ESSA requirements. We find the… more →
Strengthening the Research Base that Informs STEM Instructional Improvement Efforts: A Meta-Analysis
… We present results from a meta-analysis of 95 experimental and quasi-experimental preK-12 science, … accountability, assessment, and curriculum … Strengthening the Research Base that Informs STEM Instructional Improvement …We present results from a meta-analysis of 95 experimental and quasi-experimental preK-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional development and curriculum programs, seeking to understand what content, activities and formats relate to stronger student outcomes. Across rigorously conducted studies, we found an average weighted impact estimate of +0.21 standard… more →
Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Alternative Sample Selection Corrections
… that all students take a college entrance exam, increasing the exam-taking rate from 64 to 99%. We apply different … selection correction methods, using different sets of predictors, to the pre-policy exam score data. We then … more accurate results, but simple parametric methods and less restrictive semiparametric methods yield similar …We use a natural experiment to evaluate sample selection correction methods' performance. In 2007, Michigan began requiring that all students take a college entrance exam, increasing the exam-taking rate from 64 to 99%. We apply different selection correction methods, using different sets of predictors, to the pre-policy exam score data. We then compare the corrected data to the complete post-… more →
Efficacy of Zearn Math over two years in grades 3 to 5: An experiment in Texas
… content. RAND researchers collaborated with Zearn, the product’s developer, to design this evaluation. Then RAND … other supplemental technology products. High proportions of economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, English-learner, and below-proficient students made up the primary sample of …Zearn Math is a popular software platform for K-8 mathematics learning, designed to enable all students to successfully access grade-level content. RAND researchers collaborated with Zearn, the product’s developer, to design this evaluation. Then RAND conducted the study independently, randomly assigning 64 schools in an urban Texas district to either supplement classroom instruction with… more →
Identifying Indicators to Support Educational Attainment for Different Groups of English Learners in High School
… This study examines a broad array of potential indicators for early warning and college readiness indicator systems for different … in high school. Using data from 2008 through 2021 from the Chicago Public Schools, the study follows cohorts of …This study examines a broad array of potential indicators for early warning and college readiness indicator systems for different subgroups of English Learners in high school. Using data from 2008 through 2021 from the Chicago Public Schools, the study follows cohorts of students from eighth grade through college graduation, using logistic regression models to run exploratory analyses, and… more →
The inequity of opt-in educational resources and an intervention to increase equitable access
… Billions of dollars are invested in opt-in educational resources to … a school system’s implementation of on-demand tutoring. The take up was low. At baseline, only 19% of students ever accessed the platform and low-performing students were even less likely to log in. …Billions of dollars are invested in opt-in educational resources to support struggling students. Yet, there is no guarantee these students will use these resources. We report results from a school system’s implementation of on-demand tutoring. The take up was low. At baseline, only 19% of students ever accessed the platform and low-performing students were even less likely to log in. We… more →
Experimental Evidence on "Direct Admissions" from Four States: Impacts on College Application and Enrollment
… Complexity and uncertainty loom large in the college application … administrative burden through a proactive guarantee of admission coupled with tailored information, a simplified …Complexity and uncertainty loom large in the college application process. We leverage a largescale experiment that reduces administrative burden through a proactive guarantee of admission coupled with tailored information, a simplified application form, and automatic fee waiver to test the impact of emerging “direct admissions” policies. Students were 2.7 percentage points (or 12%) more likely… more →
Ending Early Grade Suspensions
… We investigate the beginning of the school discipline pipeline using a reform in … of out-of-school suspension by 1.4 percentage points (56%) and had precise null effects on test scores and disciplinary …We investigate the beginning of the school discipline pipeline using a reform in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that limited the use of out-of- school suspension for students in grades K–2. We find that the reform reduced the likelihood of out-of-school suspension by 1.4 percentage points (56%) and had precise null effects on test scores and disciplinary infractions. This leads us to reject a… more →
Neighbors' Spillovers on High School Choice
… in Chile's centralized school admission system to identify the effect of close neighbors on application and enrollment decisions. A student is 5-7% more likely to …Do residential neighbors affect each others' schooling choices? We exploit oversubscription lotteries in Chile's centralized school admission system to identify the effect of close neighbors on application and enrollment decisions. A student is 5-7% more likely to rank a high school as their first preference and to attend that school if their closest neighbor attended it the prior year. These… more →
Multiply by 37 (or Divide by 0.023): A Surprisingly Accurate Rule of Thumb for Converting Effect Sizes from Standard Deviations to Percentile Points
… transparent to educational stakeholders. We show that if the outcome variable is normally distributed, we can … effect by 0.027). For students in the middle three-fifths of a normal distribution, this rule of thumb is always … the middle third raise scores by 2 to 7 percentile points; and the most effective third raise scores by more than 7 …Educational researchers often report effect sizes in standard deviation units (SD), but SD effects are hard to interpret. Effects are easier to interpret in percentile points, but converting SDs to percentile points involves a calculation that is not transparent to educational stakeholders. We show that if the outcome variable is normally distributed, we can approximate the percentile-point… more →
Understanding Heterogeneous Patterns of Family Engagement with Educational Technology to Inform School-Family Communication in Linguistically Diverse Communities
… We leverage log data from an educational app and two-way text message records from over 3,500 students during the summers of 2019 and 2020, along with in-depth interviews in Spanish …We leverage log data from an educational app and two-way text message records from over 3,500 students during the summers of 2019 and 2020, along with in-depth interviews in Spanish and English, to identify patterns of family engagement with educational technology. Based on the type and timing of technology use, we identify several distinct profiles of engagement, which we group into two… more →
When Girls Outperform Boys: The Gender Gap in High School Math Grades
… Across an array of educational outcomes, evidence suggests that girls … as girl-boy differences in academic preparation, behaviors and habits, and experiences in math classes. After accounting for these factors, the gender gap in math grades persists. We, then, examine the …Across an array of educational outcomes, evidence suggests that girls outperform boys on average. For example, in Chicago, ninth-grade girls earn math GPAs that are 0.29 points higher than boys on average. This paper examines explanations for this gap, such as girl-boy differences in academic preparation, behaviors and habits, and experiences in math classes. After accounting for these factors… more →
Stay-at-Home Peer Mothers and Gender Norms: Short-run Effects on Educational Outcomes
… affects a girl's educational performance. Utilizing the classroom randomization in Chinese middle schools, we find that the increased presence of stay-at-home peer mothers significantly reduces a girl's … also cultivates gendered attitudes towards mathematics and STEM professions. The influence of peer mothers increases …Increased exposure to gender-role information affects a girl's educational performance. Utilizing the classroom randomization in Chinese middle schools, we find that the increased presence of stay-at-home peer mothers significantly reduces a girl's performance in mathematics. This exposure also cultivates gendered attitudes towards mathematics and STEM professions. The influence of peer… more →
The Impact of Summer Programs on Student Mathematics Achievement: A Meta-Analysis
… We present results from a meta-analysis of 37 contemporary experimental and quasi-experimental studies of summer programs in … settings. We undertook a secondary analysis exploring the effect of summer programs on non-cognitive outcomes and …We present results from a meta-analysis of 37 contemporary experimental and quasi-experimental studies of summer programs in mathematics for children in Grades pre-K-12, examining what resources and characteristics predict stronger student achievement. Children who participated in summer programs that included mathematics activities experienced significantly better mathematics achievement… more →
Job Training Programs as Crime Deterrents? Evidence from a Low-Income Targeted Training Program RCT
… The primary goal of job training programs is to improve employment and earning outcomes of participants. However, effective job … a job training program in New Orleans that was implemented using a randomized controlled trial design. We find that …The primary goal of job training programs is to improve employment and earning outcomes of participants. However, effective job training programs may have potential secondary benefits, including in the form of reduced arrests. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of a job training program in New Orleans that was implemented using a randomized controlled trial design. We find that among those… more →
A Bridge to Graduation: Post-Secondary Effects of an Alternative Pathway for Students Who Fail High School Exit Exams
… High school exit exams are meant to standardize the quality of public high schools and to ensure that students graduate with a set of basic …High school exit exams are meant to standardize the quality of public high schools and to ensure that students graduate with a set of basic skills and knowledge. Evidence suggests that a common perverse effect of exit exams is an increase in dropout for students who have difficulty passing tests, with a larger effect on minority students. To mitigate this, some states offer alternative, non-… more →
Elevating Education in Politics: How Teacher Strikes Shape Congressional Election Campaigns
… Teacher strikes have gained national attention with the “#RedforEd” movement. Such strikes are polarizing events … are costly to sponsors, consequential for voter behavior, and predictive of future legislative agendas. Using a …Teacher strikes have gained national attention with the “#RedforEd” movement. Such strikes are polarizing events that could serve to elevate education as a political priority or cast education politics in a negative light. We investigate this empirically by collecting original panel data on U.S. teacher strikes, which we link to congressional election campaign advertisements. Election ads… more →
The Populist-Burkean Dimension in U.S. Public Opinion
… Research has shown that a belief in popular sovereignty and a distrust of public officials are core components of populism. Its … should exercise their own judgment rather than pander to the public. A national probability sample of U. S. adults is …Scholars differ as to whether populist beliefs are a discourse or an ideology resembling conservatism or liberalism. Research has shown that a belief in popular sovereignty and a distrust of public officials are core components of populism. Its antithesis is defined as Burke’s claim that officials should exercise their own judgment rather than pander to the public. A national probability… more →
Trends in Children’s Academic Skills at School Entry: 2010 to 2017
… Students’ level of academic skills at school entry are a strong predictor of later academic success, and focusing on improving these skills during the preschool years has been a priority during the past ten …Students’ level of academic skills at school entry are a strong predictor of later academic success, and focusing on improving these skills during the preschool years has been a priority during the past ten years. Evidence from two prior nationally representative studies indicated that incoming kindergarteners’ math and literacy skills were higher in 2010 than 1998, but no national studies… more →
Identifying Preferences for Equal College Access, Income, and Income Equality
… among commuting zones. We find that, ceteris paribus , the average income that individuals are willing to sacrifice … find that political affiliation is an important moderator of preferences for equality. While both Democrats and Republicans are willing to trade over $4,000 dollars to …Revealed preferences for equal college access may be due to beliefs that equal access increases societal income or income equality. To isolate preferences for those goods, we implement an online discrete choice experiment using social statistics generated from true variation among commuting zones. We find that, ceteris paribus, the average income that individuals are willing to… more →
English Learner Labeling: How English Learner Status Shapes Teacher Perceptions of Student Skills & the Moderating Role of Bilingual Instructional Settings
… (ECLS-K:2011), we use coarsened exact matching to estimate the effect of EL status on teachers’ perceptions of students’ skills in language arts, math, science, and social studies in kindergarten through second grade. We …Prior research has shown that EL classification is consequential for students, however, less is known about how EL classification impacts students’ outcomes. In this study, we examine one hypothesized mechanism: teacher perceptions. Using nationally-representative data (ECLS-K:2011), we use coarsened exact matching to estimate the effect of EL status on teachers’ perceptions of students’… more →
The Effects of Full-day Pre-kindergarten: Experimental Evidence of Impacts on Children’s School Readiness
… This study is a randomized control trial of full- versus half-day pre-kindergarten in a school … pre-k that increased class time by over 600 hours. The offer of full-day pre-k produced substantial, positive … on teacher-reported measures of cognition, literacy, math, and physical development. At kindergarten entry, children …This study is a randomized control trial of full- versus half-day pre-kindergarten in a school district near Denver, Colorado. Four-year-old children were randomly assigned an offer of half-day (four days/week) or full-day (five days/week) pre-k that increased class time by over 600 hours. The offer of full-day pre-k produced substantial, positive effects on children’s receptive vocabulary… more →
General Equilibrium Effects of Recruiting High-Performing Teachers for School Turnaround: Evidence from Tennessee
… Many districts and states have begun implementing incentives to attract … that these incentives are effective. However, effects on the schools and students these teachers leave behind has not … This study focuses on the general equilibrium effects of recruiting effective teachers to Tennessee’s Innovation …Many districts and states have begun implementing incentives to attract high-performing teachers to low-performing schools. Previous research has found that these incentives are effective. However, effects on the schools and students these teachers leave behind has not been examined. This study focuses on the general equilibrium effects of recruiting effective teachers to… more →
Effects of a non-traditional teacher preparation program on non-test outcomes: evidence from relay graduate school of education in New York City
… This study examines the effects of a non-traditional teacher preparation program, the Relay … school students in Grades 3–8. By controlling for student and school fixed effects, I use plausibly random variation in …This study examines the effects of a non-traditional teacher preparation program, the Relay Graduate School of Education, on non-test outcomes for New York City public school students in Grades 3–8. By controlling for student and school fixed effects, I use plausibly random variation in Relay teacher assignments within students over time to identify causal Relay program effects. Results… more →
Introducing a High-School Exit Exam in Science: Consequences in Massachusetts
… Preparing students for science, technology, and engineering careers is an urgent state policy challenge. We examine the design and roll-out of a science testing requirement for high-school graduation …Preparing students for science, technology, and engineering careers is an urgent state policy challenge. We examine the design and roll-out of a science testing requirement for high-school graduation in Massachusetts. While science test performance has improved over time for all demographic subgroups, we observe rising inequality in failure rates and retest success. English learners, almost 8… more →
Exploring the Potentials of Outcomes-Based Contracting: Findings from Initial Implementations
… examines its implementation in tutoring services through the Southern Education Foundation pilot program. Interviews with district leaders and vendors reveal that OBC fosters collaboration, improves … However, financial risks for vendors and the complexity of implementation pose challenges. While OBC shows promise in …Outcomes-Based Contracting (OBC) ties vendor payments to performance metrics, aiming to enhance accountability in public education. This study examines its implementation in tutoring services through the Southern Education Foundation pilot program. Interviews with district leaders and vendors reveal that OBC fosters collaboration, improves service alignment with student needs, and enhances… more →
Should College Be “Free”? Evidence On Free College, Early Commitment, and Merit Aid From An Eight-Year Randomized Trial
… ninth graders received a $12,000 merit-based grant offer. The program was designed to be free of tuition/fees at community colleges and substantially lower the cost of four-year colleges. …We provide evidence about college financial aid from an eight-year randomized trial where high school ninth graders received a $12,000 merit-based grant offer. The program was designed to be free of tuition/fees at community colleges and substantially lower the cost of four-year colleges. During high school, it increased students’ college expectations and low-cost effort, but not higher-cost… more →
Different methods for assessing pre-service teachers’ instruction: Why measures matter
… teacher (PST) skills to drive program improvement and provide targeted supports. Observational ratings are … little about how these measurement challenges play out in the PST context. Here we investigate the reliability and sensitivity of two observational measures. We find measures collected …Teacher preparation programs are increasingly expected to use data on pre-service teacher (PST) skills to drive program improvement and provide targeted supports. Observational ratings are especially vital, but also prone to measurement issues. Scores may be influenced by factors unrelated to PSTs’ instructional skills, including rater standards and mentor teachers’ skills. Yet we know little… more →
School-based Mentoring Relationships and Human Capital Formation
… informal mentoring relationships between students and school personnel. Using longitudinal data from a large, nationally representative sample of adolescents, we explore the frequency, nature, and consequences of school-based …We document a largely unrecognized pathway through which schools promote human capital development – by fostering informal mentoring relationships between students and school personnel. Using longitudinal data from a large, nationally representative sample of adolescents, we explore the frequency, nature, and consequences of school-based natural mentorships. Estimates across a range of fixed… more →