THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT
Talking to, reading to infants benefits their cognitive development
This study uses a nationally representative sample of 9-month-old infants and their families from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study to investigate if reading to infants is associated with higher scores on contemporaneous indicators of cognitive development independently of other language-based interactions between parent and infant, such as showing them pictures or talking to them. Reading to
SEP 17
Smart teens rub off on teammates
A new study of high school activities bears this message for incoming high school students: Play what the smart kids play. Joining an extra-curricular team or club with members that get good grades can double a high school student’s odds of going to college. And Brigham Young University sociologist and study co-author Lance Erickson knows how to sell the study to teens.“Tell your parents, whate
The Roles of School-Based Law Enforcement Officers and How These Roles Are Established
Recently, considerable attention has been directed to violence and misbehavior in U.S. schools. In turn, schools have looked for solutions to address such concerns, one of which is the use of law enforcement officers. The aim of this research (Full Text (PDF) is to explore how law enforcement officers define their actual roles, as well as their perceived roles in an educational setting. Also, this
SEP 16
Teacher Incentive Fund grants and early impacts of the pay-for-performance component
The Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) provides grants to support performance-based compensation systems for teachers and principals in high-need schools. This study measures the impact of pay-for-performance bonuses as part of a comprehensive compensation system within a large, multisite random assignment study design. The treatment schools were to fully implement their performance-based compensation s
The Impact of Open Textbooks on Secondary Science Learning Outcomes
Given the increasing costs associated with commercial textbooks and decreasing financial support of public schools, it is important to better understand the impacts of open educational resources on student outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study is to analyze whether the adoption of open science textbooks significantly affects science learning outcomes for secondary students in earth syst
Gender Effects on Student Attitude Toward Science
This study examined gender and attitude toward science in fourth- and eighth-grade students in the United States and also assessed to what extent the relationship between science attitude and science achievement differed by gender. Results showed that both fourth- and eighth-grade boys demonstrated more confidence in science than girls, while eighth-grade boys also showed greater liking for scienc
Report’s recommendation of AppleTree charter preschool as a national model is premature without rigorous study
A recent report argues that a Washington, D.C., charter pre-school is particularly successful. The report then seeks to leverage that contention as strong support for a recommendation to open many more charter pre-schools nationwide, as an optional way to expand access to early education.But a review of the report, written by experts on early childhood education, cautions that it fails to mak
SEP 15
Working with aggressive children prevents some from becoming violent, criminal adults
Aggressive children are less likely to become violent criminals or psychiatrically troubled adults if they receive early intervention, says a new study based on more than two decades of research.These findings from researchers at Duke, Pennsylvania State and Vanderbilt universities and the University of Washington are based on the Fast Track Project, a multi-faceted program that is one of the
California Elementary School Truancy Crisis Persists w/ Racial, Income Disparities
The second annual report on elementary school truancy in the state reveals that the truancy crisis in California continues. The report provides new research on how students of color and students from low-income families are missing a disproportionate amount of school each year.Attorney General Harris’ second annual report, In School + On Track 2014, https://oag.ca.gov/truancy/2014 outlines recomme
SEP 13
Can We Identify a Successful Teacher Better, Faster, and Cheaper?
Teacher observations have become a national education phenomenon, mandated by federal policies and promoted by philanthropists. They are crucial components of teacher evaluation systems that often have high stakes for teachers and school systems, but have sparked little innovation. Recent calls to make teacher evaluations better, faster, and cheaper have been challenged as sitting outside the rese