THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT
A Research Agenda for the Common Core State Standards: What Information Do Policymakers Need?
As part of a broader project to better connect the research on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to policy and practice, Center on Education Policy met with individuals from organizations representing state and local education policymakers to learn of their memberships’ research and data needs around the Common Core. The conversations yielded four areas of policy-related research that will be ne
APR 03
Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children
In this report, the Annie E. Casey Foundation explores the intersection of kids, race and opportunity. The report features the new Race for Results index, which compares how children are progressing on key milestones across racial and ethnic groups at the national and state level. The index is based on 12 indicators that measure a child’s success in each stage of life, from birth to adulthood, in
Effect of the Teacher Advancement Program on Student Test Score Gains
This article presents findings from the first independent, third-party appraisal of the impact of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) on student test score gains in mathematics. TAP is a comprehensive school reform model designed to attract highly effective teachers, improve instructional effectiveness, and elevate student achievement.A panel data set was used to estimate a TAP treatment effect
Standard Measures of Preschool Quality Fail To Predict School Readiness
In the majority of states using Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to improve children's school readiness, the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) is a core assessment of preschool program quality and is central to QRIS metrics and incentive structures.The present study utilizes nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Coh
APR 02
Science-themed music videos boost scientific literacy, study shows
As the United States puts ever-greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to keep competitive in the global economy, schools are trying to figure out how to improve student learning in science.University of Washington researchers Katie Davis and Greg Crowther think music may be the answer for some kids. They studied the ability of music videos to enhance student
High-Achieving Disadvantaged Students and Students of Color Fall Behind as They Progress Through High School
Many black and Latino students and students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds who enter high school as top academic performers lose important ground as they push toward graduation day. When compared to their high-achieving white or more advantaged peers, these students finish high school, on average, with lower grades, lower AP exam pass rates, and lower SAT/ACT scores, according to a report rele
New Education Commission of the States' Kindergarten Database
Selected highlights from the kindergarten database: Kindergarten entrance age- In half of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, students must turn age 5 by the end of September to attend kindergarten.- Nineteen states requires students to turn age 5 on or before Sept. 1.Kindergarten attendance requirement- Fifteen states plus D.C. require children to attend kindergarten at age five or requi
Bullying targets popular kids, not only those who are marginalized
Bullying affects more than just isolated and marginalized students, according to sociologists. In fact, researchers have found that relatively popular students are targeted and may actually suffer more from a single act of social aggression."We did find that students who are isolated do get bullied," said Diane Felmlee, professor of sociology, Penn State. "However, for most students
Rural schools: implementation and impact of School Improvement Grants (SIG)
Federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) support turnaround efforts in the nation’s lowest-performing schools, including many located in rural areas. This evaluation brief examines the special challenges that nine rural SIG schools face in trying to turn around a history of low performance and the approaches that they took to address the challenges.Key findings include:• Although the nine rural
Early Intervention Reduces Aggressive Behavior in Adulthood
An educational intervention program for children between kindergarten and 10th grade, known as Fast Track, reduces aggressive behavior later in life, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.The research, led by psychological scientist Justin Carré of Nipissing University in Ontario, Canada, indicates that dampened testosteron
APR 01
Study finds link between child's obesity and cognitive function
A new University of Illinois study finds that obese children are slower than healthy-weight children to recognize when they have made an error and correct it. The research is the first to show that weight status not only affects how quickly children react to stimuli but also impacts the level of activity that occurs in the cerebral cortex during action monitoring."I like to explain action mon
Schools have limited success in reducing bullying, new analysis finds
Two UCLA professors who conducted the most thorough analysis to date of studies on school bullying have found that K-12 schools' efforts to curtail bullying are often disappointing.The study revealed that schools are trying many different approaches to protect students, and while the more comprehensive programs have been the most effective, they require substantial commitment and school resources
U.S. 15-year-olds Perform Above OECD Average in Problem Solving
The National Center for Education Statistics has released new data tables documenting the performance of U.S. 15-year-old students on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 problem solving assessment in comparison to their peers in 43 other education systems.The PISA problem solving assessment, administered on computer, assessed students’ skills in solving problems set in rea
MAR 31
Limiting screen time improves sleep, academics and behavior
Parents may not always see it, but efforts to limit their children’s screen time can make a difference. A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found children get more sleep, do better in school, behave better and see other health benefits when parents limit content and the amount of time their children spend on the computer or in front of the TV. Douglas Gentile, lead author and an associate
While Many American Indian Students Cite High Education Aspirations, Few Pursue Postsecondary Education Plans
Most American Indian students—86 percent—want to further their education after high school, but the majority are not well prepared to succeed in college, according to a new report released today by ACT.The report, The Condition of College and Career Readiness 2013: American Indian Students, shows that 52 percent of American Indian 2013 high school graduates who took the ACT® college readiness asse
Many African American Students Inadequately Prepared for Postsecondary Education
Nearly all African American students report that they aspire to earn a postsecondary degree, but most are inadequately prepared to succeed in their first-year courses in college, degree or certificate programs, according to a report released today by ACT.The report, The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2013: African American Students, shows that only 10 percent of African American 2013
NYC school reform may have produced real economic benefits, but Sonecon report’s analysis is nothing more than fantasy
A recent report, crediting New York City education reforms during the mayoral terms of Michael Bloomberg with boosting the city’s economy by $74 billion, is so seriously flawed as to be useless for policymakers, according to a new review.Sean P. Corcoran, associate professor of educational economics at New York University, reviewed The Economic Benefits of New York City’s Public School Reforms, 20
Dismissal threats increased the voluntary attrition of low-performing teachers and improved the performance of those who decided to remain
While the effects of teacher quality on student development, achievement, and later outcomes have been widely studied, there is no agreement on how to systematically drive improvements in the quality of teachers. Teacher salaries are traditionally based only on experience and credentials. However, these traits may not have consistent links to teacher quality. In a push toward "pay for perform
MAR 27
Study Finds Secret to Cutting Sugary Drink Use by Teens
Student-run ‘Sodabriety’ effort also boosted water consumptionA new study shows that teenagers can be persuaded to cut back on sugary soft drinks – especially with a little help from their friends.A 30-day challenge encouraging teens to reduce sugar-sweetened drink use lowered their overall consumption substantially and increased by two-thirds the percentage of high-school students who shunned sug