EdWorkingPapers
“Non-Submitters:” Evidence on Students Who Start but Don’t Complete a College Application
… We use descriptive techniques, data visualizations, and fixed effects models to explore this population of college-interested “non-submitters” to observe application …Not all students who could benefit from college apply. With novel data on over 1.2 million high schoolers, we show that nearly 25% start but never complete a college application. We use descriptive techniques, data visualizations, and fixed effects models to explore this population of college-interested “non-submitters” to observe application behaviors; document differences across individual,… more →
Community Colleges and Careers: Evidence from Nursing School Lotteries
… I estimate the effect of attending an associate's degree in nursing program on … within three years. By seven years the effect is smaller and not statistically significant. I estimate the value of a …I estimate the effect of attending an associate's degree in nursing program on nursing licensure. I use student-level academic data for all California community college students, matched to public records on all nursing licenses earned in the state. I produce causal estimates using random variation from admissions lotteries at a large nursing program. Enrolling in the program increases the… more →
Can brick phones bridge the digital learning divide? Evidence from SMS-based math practice
… Hardware requirements are a barrier to widespread adoption of digital learning software among low-income populations. We investigate the demand among smallholder-farming households for a simple, … that can be accessed by widely available ``brick'' phones, and its effect on educational outcomes. Over a quarter of …Hardware requirements are a barrier to widespread adoption of digital learning software among low-income populations. We investigate the demand among smallholder-farming households for a simple, adaptive math learning tool that can be accessed by widely available ``brick'' phones, and its effect on educational outcomes. Over a quarter of invited households used the tool, with greater demand among… more →
Incentivizing Equity? The Effects of Performance-Based Funding on Race-Based Gaps in College Completion
… a Synthetic Control Method research design, we examine the impact of these funding regimes on race-based completion gaps in Tennessee and Ohio. We find no evidence that performance-based funding …Performance-based funding models for higher education, which tie state support for institutions to performance on student outcomes, have proliferated in recent decades. Some states have designed these policies to also address educational attainment gaps by including bonus payments for traditionally low-performing groups. Using a Synthetic Control Method research design, we examine the impact of… more →
Connected Networks in Principal Value-Added Models
… a connected networks model that includes both principal and school fixed effects (FE) to isolate principal … Tennessee and New York City, we show that limited mobility of principals among schools yields connected networks that … however, can alleviate estimation error to increase the reliability of principal VA. … Value-added models, school …A growing literature uses value-added (VA) models to quantify principals' contributions to improving student outcomes. Principal VA is typically estimated using a connected networks model that includes both principal and school fixed effects (FE) to isolate principal effectiveness from fixed school factors that principals cannot control. While conceptually appealing, high-dimensional FE… more →
Indigenous Students and English Learner Identification: A Fifty-State Policy Review
… however nearly one in ten American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students are classified in school as ELs. Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) defines EL …English learner (EL) education is widely conceived as services for immigrant-origin students, however nearly one in ten American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students are classified in school as ELs. Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) defines EL eligibility differently for Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, students with implications for who is identified as an… more →
Operator versus Partner: A Case Study of Blueprint School Network’s Model for School Turnaround
… to “turn around” low-performing schools. Evidence on the effectiveness of school turnarounds, however, is mixed, and research offers little guidance on which models are more …Numerous high-profile efforts have sought to “turn around” low-performing schools. Evidence on the effectiveness of school turnarounds, however, is mixed, and research offers little guidance on which models are more likely to succeed. We present a mixed-methods case study of turnaround efforts led by the Blueprint Schools Network in three schools in Boston. Using a difference-in-differences… more →
Ordinal Approaches to Decomposing Between-group Test Score Disparities
… The estimation of test score “gaps” and gap trends plays an important role … ordinal gap statistic, and an extension of ordered probit models. Simulations show V decompositions have negligible …The estimation of test score “gaps” and gap trends plays an important role in monitoring educational inequality. Researchers decompose gaps and gap changes into within- and between-school portions to generate evidence on the role schools play in shaping these inequalities. However, existing decomposition methods assume an equal-interval test scale and are a poor fit to coarsened data such as… more →
Interpreting Effect Sizes of Education Interventions
… that are small by Cohen’s standards are large relative to the impacts of most field-based interventions. These benchmarks also fail … important differences in study features, program costs, and scalability. In this paper, I present five broad …Researchers commonly interpret effect sizes by applying benchmarks proposed by Cohen over a half century ago. However, effects that are small by Cohen’s standards are large relative to the impacts of most field-based interventions. These benchmarks also fail to consider important differences in study features, program costs, and scalability. In this paper, I present five broad guidelines for… more →
O Brother, Where Start Thou? Sibling Spillovers in College Enrollment
… increases their own four-year college enrollment rate and quality of college attended. Their improved college choices in turn … Some younger siblings follow their older sibling to the same campus but many upgrade by choosing other colleges. …We study within-family spillovers in college enrollment to show college-going behavior is transmissible between peers. Because siblings’ test scores are weakly correlated, we exploit college-specific admissions thresholds that directly affect older but not younger siblings’ college options. Older siblings’ admissibility substantially increases their own four-year college enrollment rate and… more →
Spillover Impacts on Education from Employment Guarantees
… program (MGNREGA) employing adults in 23% of Indian households. A potential concern is that … opportunities may discourage investment in human capital and long-run income growth. Using large-scale administrative … reject substantive declines in children's education from the government's rollout of MGNREGA. I estimate that these …Programs that provide lower-skill employment are a popular anti-poverty strategy in developing countries, with India's employment-guarantee program (MGNREGA) employing adults in 23% of Indian households. A potential concern is that guaranteeing lower-skill employment opportunities may discourage investment in human capital and long-run income growth. Using large-scale administrative… more →
Design-Based Approaches to Causal Replication Studies
… Recent interest to promote and support replication efforts assume that there is … these studies. However, no such consensus exists in the methodology literature. This article addresses these … are systematically tested to evaluate the replicability of effects, as well as to identify sources of effect …Recent interest to promote and support replication efforts assume that there is well-established methodological guidance for designing and implementing these studies. However, no such consensus exists in the methodology literature. This article addresses these challenges by describing design-based approaches for planning systematic replication studies. Our general approach is derived from the… more →
Is Education Consumption or Investment? Implications for School Competition
… schools would improve education. His argument was simple and compelling because it extended results from markets for consumer goods to education. We review the evidence, which yields surprisingly mixed results on … Second, labor markets can feature wage premia: individuals of a given skill level may receive higher wages if they match …Friedman (1955) argued that giving parents freedom to choose schools would improve education. His argument was simple and compelling because it extended results from markets for consumer goods to education. We review the evidence, which yields surprisingly mixed results on Friedman's prediction. A key reason is that households often seem to choose schools based on their absolute achievement… more →
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 through… more →
Supporting Females in STEM: Evidence on Student-Instructor Gender-Matching in 4-Year Research Universities in Texas
… is exposure to same-gender faculty, yet evidence on both the prevalence and impacts of student–instructor gender matching in higher education …Despite progress in overall educational attainment, female students remain underrepresented in STEM fields. One proposed mechanism for improving female students' outcomes is exposure to same-gender faculty, yet evidence on both the prevalence and impacts of student–instructor gender matching in higher education remains limited. Using administrative data from ten public research universities in… 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 geographic… 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 downstream… 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 statewide… 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-to-… 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. The… 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 event… 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 →
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 of… 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 English… 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 school students… 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 North… 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 commonly… 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 Zearn… more →
How Large are District Effects on Student Attendance? Implications for School Funding Based on Average Daily Attendance
… Greater attendance rates in the K-12 grades demonstrate motivation and discipline and contribute to other desired educational … outcomes such as cognitive development. A growing number of states incentivize school districts to increase attendance …Greater attendance rates in the K-12 grades demonstrate motivation and discipline and contribute to other desired educational outcomes such as cognitive development. A growing number of states incentivize school districts to increase attendance by allocating funding based on the average number of students in attendance, or average daily attendance (ADA). Using statewide data from Texas, we assess… more →
What are schools doing to improve attendance? Evidence from Michigan and Georgia
… This study presents evidence from Michigan and Georgia on the strategies that schools are using to … and districts can shape the adoption and implementation of different practices to improve attendance. … attendance, …This study presents evidence from Michigan and Georgia on the strategies that schools are using to improve attendance and how those strategies vary across contexts. We find that schools in both states rely heavily on communication-based practices aimed at changing student or parent behavior. Practices focused on removing barriers or improving student experiences in school are less common. We find… 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 conducted… 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 to… 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 key… 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 mothers… 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 who… more →