The set of courses that a school, university, or other educational institution offers—and, at times, requires for graduation—constitutes its curriculum; these courses may be determined at the school or district level, but more frequently they are influenced by educational legislation and policy. RAND has investigated and advised policymakers on curriculum development in schools worldwide, including helping to redesign the entire curriculum for Qatar's K-12 schools and universities.
REPORT
Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor Algebra I (CTAI) curriculum is a technology-based curriculum that combines classroom instruction with individualized instruction by a computer-based tutor. This report examines the cost of implementing CTAI and comparison algebra I curricula, including costs associated with textbooks and software, computers, and teacher training.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
This randomized, controlled field trial estimated the causal impact of a technology-based geometry curriculum on students' geometry achievement, as well as their attitudes toward mathematics and technology.
RESEARCH BRIEF
This research brief summarizes the development of a standards-based student assessment system in Qatar, lessons for policymakers in Qatar and elsewhere, and challenges in aligning the assessment with future changes in the curriculum standards.
REPORT
In 2007, the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) requested that the RAND Corporation monitor implementation of year 2 (2007–2008) of the district's Excellence for All (EFA) initiative and provide feedback to district staff, the PPS board, and other stakeholders. The second year's broader focus on effective implementation of EFA's instructional change is evident here.
RESEARCH BRIEF
This research brief summarizes the development of a standards-based student assessment system in Qatar, lessons for policymakers in Qatar and elsewhere, and challenges in aligning the assessment with future changes in the curriculum standards.
REPORT
Central to Qatar's education reform was the development of internationally benchmarked curriculum standards and standards-based assessments in four subjects: Arabic, English as a foreign language, mathematics, and science. This report recounts the development of Qatar's standards-based student assessment system, providing important lessons learned for Qatar and other countries that are seeking to implement similar measures on a large…
REPORT
This report, which was commissioned by the National Audit Office (NAO) in the United Kingdom. presents results of a comparative study investigating the implementation of education programmes for 14-19 year olds in three countries: The Netherlands, Sweden, and Australia.
REPORT
The Pittsburgh Public School District leadership developed Excellence for All (EFA) with the aim of increasing kindergarten through high school student achievement across the district. EFA proposes to improve classroom instruction across the district. This documented briefing provides feedback on the first year’s implementation (2006-2007) of EFA to district staff, the board, and other stakeholders.
NEWS RELEASE
April 12, 2007 news release: RAND Study Finds Qatar Successfully Implements Redesign of Education System.
REPORT
In only a few years, the State of Qatar has successfully implemented a bold redesign of its K-12 education system, incorporating school autonomy, variety in curriculum, parental choice and accountability measures.
NEWS RELEASE
April 5, 2007 news release: U.S. Education Department Gives RAND $6 Million Grant to Evaluate Math Curriculum of Carnegie Learning.
REPORT
The Los Angeles Unified School District in 1999 approved a ten-year program to implement a substantive, sequential curriculum in arts education. A central goal of the plan calls for schools to build partnerships with the Los Angeles arts community to provide educational programming, beginning with elementary schools in the Arts Prototype Schools (APS) program. This study examined the range of partnerships in operation and identified…
REPORT
This draft paper examines whether radio can be used to facilitate basic education in Afghanistan, and includes a sample curriculum. The author notes possible problems with and probable limits to attempts to use radio as a learning tool.
REPORT
Discusses changes in training structure, content, and methods, with the focus on developing training for CSS staffs operating as staffs, not for individual training.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Chiropractic and allopathic medicine differ the greatest in clinical practice, which in medical school far exceeds that in chiropractic school. The therapies that chiropractic and medical students learn are distinct from one another, and the settings in which students receive clinical training are different and isolated from one another.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
RAND developed and pilot tested a six-week ''mini-sabbatical'' for high-school teachers and teacher trainers. This document describes the mini-sabbatical curriculum.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine, has a mission to increase the number of physicians pursuing careers in primary care and/or providing care to the underserved. The authors sought to determine whether Drew's initial classes are pursuing career paths consistent with the institution's mission. The results raise questions regarding possible early influences on career choice.
REPORT
This report presents the design and pilot study of a model for collecting in-depth, benchmark data on school coursework, intended to improve the quality of curriculum data obtained through national surveys of classroom teachers.
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