THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT
Assessing the Impact of Classroom Composition on Student Achievement
This study evaluates the effects of classroom peers on standardized testing achievement for all third- and fourth-grade students in the Philadelphia School District over 6 school years. With a comprehensive individual- and multilevel data set of all students matched to teachers, classrooms, and schools, two empirical strategies are employed. The first relies on the observable distribution of stude
AUG 11
Hybrid Interactive Online Learning Formats
What is the study about?This study measured the impact of using hybrid forms of interactive online learning in sevenundergraduate courses across universities in the University System of Maryland. In college courses, interactive online learning typically involves video lectures, extensive opportunities for discussion and interaction with instructors and peers, and online assignments and exams. Hybr
Why Have Statewide Alignment Efforts Been Ineffective?
High rates of academic remediation among college students suggest that many states have still not aligned high school and college curricular standards and assessments to ensure college readiness. One structure created by many states that is designed to improve this alignment is the P–20 Council. To understand why the lack of alignment persists despite the creation of this, and other, structures, t
AUG 08
Musical training offsets some academic achievement gaps
Learning to play a musical instrument or to sing can help disadvantaged children strengthen their reading and language skills, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's 122nd Annual Convention.The findings, which involved hundreds of kids participating in musical training programs in Chicago and Los Angeles public schools, highlight the role learning music can ha
AUG 07
A Compendium of Research on the Common Core State Standards
The Center on Education Policy has released A Compendium of Research on the Common Core State Standards, which includes over 60 studies focused on a range of issues and topics related to the Common Core. This user-friendly compendium summarizes each study on a single page, highlighting important details about topic, scope and timeline, and includes URL links to the original study documents. Rese
AUG 06
Requiring More Math and Science Courses Doesn't Improve College and Career Readiness
Although several states have mandated more advanced coursework for high school students, the stricter graduation guidelines alone may not be enough to prepare students for college and careers, according to a report released by ACT.The report, Missing the Mark, follows the first few waves of high school graduates affected by Public Act 94-0676, enacted by Illinois in 2005. According to the law, Ill
AUG 05
Grade 4 Writing Computer-Based Assessment: 14 percent demonstrated competent or effective writing skills
Computers are becoming increasingly important in today’s classrooms as tools for both teaching and learning, but little is known about the knowledge and skills of elementary students in large-scale computer-based writing assessments. The Grade 4 Writing Computer-Based Assessment (WCBA) study was conducted to determine if fourth-grade students could effectively demonstrate their writing knowledge a
AUG 02
The Relationship Between Classroom Observation Scores and Teacher Value Added on Multiple Types of Assessment
The Test MattersThis study examines how the relationships between one observation protocol, the Protocol for Language Arts Teaching Observation (PLATO), and value-added measures shift when different tests are used to assess student achievement.Using data from the Measures of Effective Teaching Project, the reseachers found that PLATO was more strongly related to the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-
AUG 01
Postsecondary Tuition, Fees and Degrees
Between 2011-12 and 2013-14, the average tuition and required fees at 4-year public institutions (after adjusting for inflation) increased more for in-state students (4 percent increase) than for out-of-state students (3 percent increase). During that same time period, 4-year nonprofit institutions increased overall at 4 percent. However, for-profit institutions reported a 3 percent decrease.This