High school students test best with 7 hours' rest
Ω Whether or not you know any high school students that actually get nine hours of sleep each night, that’s what federal guidelines currently prescribe. A new Brigham Young University study found that 16-18 year olds perform better academically when they shave about two hours off that recommendation. “We’re not talking about sleep deprivation,” says study author Eric Eide. “The data simply says that seven hours is optimal at that age.” The new study by Eide and fellow BYU economics professor Mark Showalter is the first in a series of studies where they examine sleep and its impact ...more »
Studies show income-based achievement gap is growing
Ω Complete article The achievement gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers has grown by roughly 40% since the 1960s, according to a recent study by researchers at Stanford University. Another study from University of Michigan researchers shows a 50% increase since the late 1980s in the imbalance between rich and poor students completing college. Furthermore, researchers say they expect the gap to widen amid the effects of the economic downturn. Ω
School Choice Program Found to Reduce Crime and its Related Social Cost Among High-Risk Youth
Ω A new study of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina (CMS) school choice program, “Does School Choice Reduce Crime? Evidence from North Carolina,” finds that high-risk male youth who are admitted by lottery to their preferred schools commit fewer crimes and remain in school longer than their peers who seek admittance but do not gain seats in the lottery process. Lottery-winning middle school students also are 18 percentage points more likely than those who lose the lottery to still be enrolled in school in 10th grade. In general, high-risk students commit about 50 percent les... more »
Advanced Placement® Results for the Class of 2011 Announced
Ω In an era when more than 35 percent of college freshmen and sophomores require remediation and less than 40 percent of college freshmen will earn a degree in four years, educators are increasingly using the high standards embedded within Advanced Placement® courses to help more high school students develop the critical thinking skills and content knowledge essential for college success. Research indicates that students who succeed on an AP Exam during high school typically experience greater academic success in college, experience lower college costs and are more likely to earn a... more »
Study examines role of bilingualism in children's development
Ω A new study on children who are raised bilingual examined the effects on children's development of growing up speaking two languages. The study found that different factors were responsible for the language- and non-language-related outcomes of bilingualism found in previous research. The research was carried out at York University in Toronto and published in the journal Child Development. Bilingual children show differences in how they develop language and cognitive skills through the early school years. Children who grow up speaking two languages have slower language acquisitio... more »
Adolescents suffering from depression more likely to be bullied
Ω A new study provides evidence that adolescents who suffer from depression are more likely to develop difficulty in peer relationships including being bullied at school. It's often assumed that being bullied leads to psychological problems, such as depression, but the study doesn't support this line of thought. "Often the assumption is that problematic peer relationships drive depression. We found that depression symptoms predicted negative peer relationships," said Karen Kochel, Arizona State University School of Social and Family Dynamics assistant research professor. "We examin... more »
After-school program can reduce alcohol use among middle school students,
Ω A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Results suggest that if prevention researchers build programs with developmentally relevant content, and provide this content in an engaging, confidential and non-judgmental way, it can help middle school-aged children avoid alcohol. The article is published online in the journal Prevention Science. "There are many mandatory school-based programs aimed at preventing youth alcohol and drug ...more »
Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study: Findings After the Second Year of Implementation
Ω This study examined whether a professional development program for seventh-grade mathematics teachers improved the teachers’ knowledge of rational number topics and the performance of their students on a rational number test. The study analyzed data on 89 teachers and about 2,100 students from 39 schools in 6 largely urban school districts. The study found no statistically significant difference in teacher knowledge of rational numbers or student achievement between treatment and control schools. The research described in this report is a well-executed randomized controlled tri... more »
School-Based Early Childhood Education and Age28 Well-Being: Effects by Timing, Dosage, and Subgroups
Ω This study examined the effect of an early childhood education program on educational attainment by age 28, including on-time high school graduation, high school completion, and college attendance and graduation. Researchers analyzed data from 900 individuals who completed the Child-Parent Center Education Program for preschool and kindergarten and 486 individuals from similar backgrounds who completed alternative kindergarten programs through the Chicago Effective Schools Project. The study found positive, statistically significant differences on four outcomes related to educat... more »
What does the research say about The Incredible Years?
Ω *The Incredible Years *is a program that focuses on building the social and emotional skills of children ages 0–12 who have exhibited difficult behavior. Lessons cover recognizing and understanding feelings, getting along with friends, anger management, problem solving, and behavior at school. Parents are given training on how to provide positive discipline, promote learning and development, and stay involved in their children’s life at school. The WWC identified 166 studies of The Incredible Years for preschool children with disabilities in early education settings that were p... more »
Survey of elementary school student access to food in vending machines, snack bars, other venues
Ω About half of all public and private elementary school students could buy food in one or more competitive venues on campus (vending machines, school stores, snack bars or a la carte lines) by the 2009-2010 school year and sugary foods were available to almost all students with access to these options, according to a report published in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Access to healthier options was limited with about two-thirds of students who had access to competitive food venues being able to buy salads, veg... more »
Behavioral prevention model appears to reduce bullying, peer rejection
Ω A widely used universal behavioral prevention model in schools appears to be associated with lower rates of teacher-reported bullying and peer rejection, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. National concern has increased over bullying, which can lead to academic, interpersonal, physical health and mental health problems. Despite the concern, relatively few school-based programs have shown to be effective at preventing bullying, and zero-tolerance policies adopted at many schools have not b... more »
Plugging a Leak in the College Pipeline
Ω Every year, a phenomenon known as the “summer melt” washes away the higher education plans of thousands of would-be college students. It’s a tragic scenario in a competitive economy where a college degree matters more than ever. Research from Chicago schools suggests that the college plans of as many as 1 in 5 students who’ve already been accepted to colleges “melt” away during the dog days of summer before their college careers begin. A new study out of Rhode Island holds promise for freezing summer melt and keeping more of America’s youth on the path to a postsecondary diploma. ... more »
Developmental Students: Their Heterogeneity and Readiness
Ω When one observes many developmental classrooms, the most striking aspect is the heterogeneity of students. Some are “brush-up” students, who simply need to remember skills they have already learned. Some have been misplaced by placement exams, and similarly need very little additional instruction. Many — almost surely the majority — have failed to learn certain academic skills in many years of K-12 education, for reasons that are hotly debated. Others have learning disabilities or mental health issues, and colleges have no way of either diagnosing or treating such conditions. The... more »
Assessment and Alignment: The Dynamic Aspects of Developmental Education
Ω In this, the seventh of eleven Policy Analysis for California Education Working Papers, W. Norton Grubb et al, continue their analysis of basic skills education in California Community Colleges. Developmental education is typically a dynamic sequence of courses taking place over time, with the presumption that each activity — an initial assessment, then a series of courses leading to college-level courses — is articulated with the next. However, there are many issues in this process. One of the first is that the assessment exams used are themselves problems — inconsistent among c... more »
PROGRAMS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH: An Inventory of Existing Technology
Ω In a new working paper, Andrew Saultz of Michigan State University, inventories the current landscape of technology programs available for middle school math. This inventory shows that a wide variety of schools use technology to teach middle school mathematics. However, research on these programs is limited. While a few of the programs have participated in randomly controlled trials, the vast majority has not been evaluated for effectiveness. What is clear is that a number of options currently exist for policymakers and educators looking to incorporate technology into the teachin... more »
Football findings suggest concussions caused by series of hits
Ω A two-year study of high school football players suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed. Purdue University researchers have studied football players for two seasons at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Ind., where 21 players completed the study the first season and 24 the second season, including 16 repeating players. Helmet-sensor impact data from each player were compared with brain-imaging scans and cognitive tests performed before, during and after each season. "The most important impl... more »
Effects of High School Course-Taking on Secondary and Postsecondary Success
Ω Using panel data from a census of public school students in the state of Florida, the authors of this study examine the associations between students’ high school course-taking in various subjects and their 10th-grade test scores, high school graduation, entry into postsecondary institutions, and postsecondary performance. The authors use propensity score matching (based on 8thgrade test scores, other student characteristics, and school effects) within groups of students matched on the composition of the students’ course-taking in other subjects to estimate the differences in ou... more »
Charter School Closure Rates Dropped in 2010-2011 School Year
Ω A report released by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) indicates charter school closures have declined over the past three years. These findings are shared in 2011 State of Charter School Authorizing: Fourth Annual Report on NACSA’s Authorizer Survey. In 2010-2011, 6.2 percent of charter schools that were reviewed for renewal were closed, down from 8.8 percent in 2009-2010 and 12.6 percent in 2008-2009. This decline could reflect numerous factors, including state laws influencing charter oversight, an improvement in the quality of charters, changes in... more »
Assessing the Value of BMI Screening and Surveillance in Schools
Ω The value of routine body mass index (BMI) screening in schools has been a topic of ongoing controversy. An expert Roundtable Discussion in the current issue of Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., debates the pros and cons of routine BMI screening in the school setting, discusses the most recent data, and explores when and for what purpose BMI screening results should be shared with parents and the potential benefits. The Roundtable is available online. Patricia B. Crawford, DrPH, RD, Adjunct Professor, University of California, Berkele... more »
