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NEW EdWorkingPapers
Schools Never Die: Toward a Dynamic Systems Theory of School Closure
Educational researchers and policymakers typically treat school closures as discrete administrative decisions with clear endpoints. This paper challenges that assumption by applying Dynamic Systems Theory to school closure policy and research. We argue that schools function as adaptive ecosystems embedded within broader networks of relations that span social, cultural, political, and economic… more →
Creating Classes: Elementary school classroom assignments and their implications for student access to high-quality teaching
We investigate the distribution of students across classrooms in North Carolina elementary schools. While tracking is ubiquitous and well-documented in secondary education, limited evidence exists regarding cross-classroom clustering in elementary schools and its consequences. Consistent with qualitative evidence suggesting that educators seek to create demographically balanced classrooms, we… more →
Policy Impacts of Reimbursement Rate Reform: Evidence from the Child Care and Development Fund
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidizes child care costs for families with low-incomes. Reimbursements for cost-subsidized care are paid to child care providers but are extremely low compared with market rates and actual cost of care. We examine how the 2014 congressional reauthorization of CCDF, which recommended states increase subsidy reimbursement rates to the 75th percentile… more →
Influence of Within-Class Age Differences on Adolescents’ Eating Behaviors
This study examines within-class age differences as a novel determinant of adolescents’ dietary behaviors, isolating it from confounders such as absolute age, season of birth, and country-specific school entry rules. Using a multi-country dataset of over 600,000 European students, we find that younger students within a class exhibit poorer dietary habits. Since confounders are controlled for,… more →
Higher Education as Regional Development: Labor Market Impacts of Nigeria’s 2011 Federal University Expansion
This paper examines the causal impact of higher education expansion on regional labor markets and human capital development. Exploiting the 2011 establishment of nine federal universities across previously underserved Nigerian states, we implement a difference-in-differences approach to analyze effects on employment, wages, job quality, and sectoral composition. Our results show significant… more →
The reliability of classroom observations and student surveys in non-research settings: Evidence from Argentina
There is a growing consensus on the need to measure teaching effectiveness using multiple instruments. Yet, guidance on how to achieve reliable ratings derives largely from formal research in high-income countries. We study the reliability of classroom observations and student surveys conducted by practitioners in a middle-income country. Both instruments can achieve relatively high… more →
Policy and Practice Series
The EdWorkingPapers Policy & Practice Series is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world decision-making. Each installment summarizes a newly released EdWorkingPaper and highlights the most actionable insights for policymakers and education leaders.
Webinar Series
The Bigger Picture: Key Trends in America’s Changing Education Landscape
When: Thursday, November 13 at 3:00pm ET
Where: Zoom (click here to register)
Join us for our next EdWorkingPapers Webinar, where we’ll bring timely, policy-relevant research to life through live conversation. Our fall session on Thursday, November 13 at 3:00pm ET will focus on long-term trends in student enrollment and achievement. Hear directly from the authors as they share insights and discuss implications for research and policy, and come with your questions!
James H. Wyckoff, presenting Puzzling Over Declining Academic Achievement
Abigail Francis, presenting School Enrollment Shifts Five Years After the Pandemic
Joshua Goodman, presenting School Enrollment Shifts Five Years After the Pandemic
Susanna Loeb, EdWorkingPapers Review Board member, facilitating the conversation and Q&A