Education

RAND researchers have policy and hands-on experience in education and training. Research includes K-12 assessment and accountability, school reform, teachers and teaching, higher education, military education and training, worker training, and substance-abuse prevention in schools. View all Education Documents Available Online or find general information at Reports and Bookstore.

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Public and Private Collaboration Can Provide Arts Education, Aid Child Development — Jun. 18, 2008

Amid cutbacks in school arts education funding, public and private organizations in six urban regions have collaborated to expand access to arts learning for children in and outside of public school.

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Room for Improvement in California's Use of High-Quality Preschool Programs — Jun. 18, 2008

More than half of California’s preschoolers attend center-based early care and education programs, but the children who have the most to gain from preschool frequently are those least likely to participate in the programs.

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No Child Left Behind Panel Discussion — Feb. 25, 2008

In a panel discussion hosted by the RAND Corporation, RAND researchers and experts in the field made observations on the implementation and effectiveness of No Child Left Behind. Audio of the event is available online.

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View All »Related News & Commentary

June 18, 2008: Most California Children Attend Center-Based Preschools; Educational Quality of Programs Falls Short

June 18, 2008: Creative Collaborative Approaches Work to Maintain, Extend Arts Education in Six U.S. Urban Areas

June 12, 2008: U.S. Still Leads the World in Science and Technology; Nation Benefits From Foreign Scientists, Engineers

June 10, 2008: Virginity Pledges May Help Postpone Intercourse Among Youth

May 7, 2008: Charter School Students in Chicago Enjoy Better Graduation, College Entry Rates

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Examining Gaps in Mathematics Achievement Among Racial-Ethnic Groups, 1972-1992

Cover: Examining Gaps in Mathematics Achievement

Examines trends in the mathematics scores of different racial-ethnic groups over time and analyzes how changes in family, school, and schooling measures help explain changes in the test score gaps. Although there were few positive changes between schools, the within-school experiences of black and Latino students changed for the better compared with white students when measured by student self-reported academic track placement.

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The Economics of Investing in Universal Preschool Education in California

There is increased interest in California and other states in providing universal access to publicly funded preschool education. In considering such a program, policymakers and the public focus on the potential benefits and costs of such a program. This study aims to inform such deliberations by conducting an analysis of the economic returns from investing in high-quality preschool education in the state of California.