Report
The Quality Start Los Angeles Developmental Evaluation: Research Findings and Lessons Learned
RAND researchers conducted a developmental evaluation of Quality Start Los Angeles, the voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early learning providers in Los Angeles County.
Feb 1, 2021
Report
Early Lessons from Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs Implementing Social and Emotional Learning
In this report, RAND researchers describe the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative, as well as findings and early lessons from the first two years of implementation in the six participating communities.
Oct 20, 2020
Report
Early Lessons from Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs Implementing Social and Emotional Learning: Executive Summary
In this summary, RAND researchers describe the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative, as well as findings and early lessons from the first two years of implementation in the six participating communities.
Oct 20, 2020
Report
Growing Teachers from Within: Implementation, Impact, and Cost of an Alternative Teacher Preparation Program in Three Urban School Districts
The authors investigated implementation and costs of the Teacher Effectiveness and Certification (TEACh) initiative in three urban school districts, as well as the program's impact on teacher recruitment, job performance, and retention.
Sep 29, 2020
Report
The Big Lift Implementation Study: Final Report
The Big Lift, a learning initiative extending from preschool to third grade initiative in San Mateo County, aims to increase third grade reading proficiency in the county. As part of a Big Lift evaluation, this report focused on collective impact design and activity pillars.
Jun 25, 2018
Report
What Supports Do Teachers Need to Help Students Meet Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy? Findings from the American Teacher and American School Leader Panels
This report shares U.S. educators' perspectives on their readiness and needs for support to help students meet Common Core and other state standards, drawing on findings from a nationally representative survey of K-12 teachers and school leaders.
Dec 19, 2016
Journal Article
Independent Evaluation of California's Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Quality Rating and Improvement System: Cumulative Technical Report
This final comprehensive report highlights key findings from the half-term report and presents additional results related to the implementation of the system, quality improvement (QI) supports provided through the system, program quality and children's developmental outcomes, and perceptions of quality and the rating system.
Dec 5, 2016
Journal Article
Independent Evaluation of California's Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Quality Rating and Improvement System: Cumulative Technical Report Executive Summary
These findings can be used to make revisions to improve the QRIS as a measure of program quality and to identify promising ways to support QI efforts among early childhood programs.
Dec 5, 2016
Journal Article
Independent Evaluation of California's Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Quality Rating and Improvement System
Implementation of the RTT–ELC QRIS was in an early stage at the time the study began, but significant progress has been made over the course of the system's development, from 2012 to 2015.
Dec 5, 2016
Report
What Supports Do Teachers Need to Help Students Meet Common Core State Standards for Mathematics? Findings from the American Teacher and American School Leader Panels
Presents summary data from web-based surveys of U.S. teachers on how prepared they feel to address new mathematics standards in their instruction.
Oct 27, 2016
Report
What Are Teachers' and School Leaders' Major Concerns About New K–12 State Tests? Findings from the American Teacher and American School Leader Panels
This report shares U.S. principals' and teachers' concerns about implementation of state assessment tests aligned to the new standards, drawing on survey data from RAND's American Teacher Panel (ATP) and American School Leader Panel (ASLP).
Oct 18, 2016
Journal Article
Can College Outreach Programs Improve College Readiness? The Case of the College Bound, St. Louis Program
In the past decade, there has been a proliferation of community- and school-based college readiness programs designed to increase the participation of students who have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education.
Apr 11, 2016
Journal Article
Independent Evaluation of California's Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Quality Rating and Improvement System: Half-Term Report
This half-term report presents findings which focus on the Validity and Reliability Study of California's RTT-ELC quality and improvement system (QRIS).
Nov 19, 2015
Research Brief
Competency-Based Education in Three Pilot Programs: What It Is, How It's Implemented, and How It's Working
In 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation extended grants to three organizations involved with competency-based education approaches. RAND examined these organizations' implementation, student experiences, and student outcomes.
Aug 4, 2014
Report
Competency-Based Education in Three Pilot Programs: Examining Implementation and Outcomes
Competency-based education provides students with flexible pacing and opportunities for choice, and it awards credit for evidence of learning. RAND evaluated implementation of three pilot programs, along with students' experiences and performance.
Aug 4, 2014
Research Brief
Can New Tests Lead to Better Teaching and Deeper Learning?
Summarizes how testing of K-12 students affects teaching practice, and identifies characteristics of assessment systems that can promote deeper-learning skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
Feb 28, 2014
Report
New Assessments, Better Instruction? Designing Assessment Systems to Promote Instructional Improvement
Reviews the literature on how assessment affects teaching practice and the conditions that moderate that relationship.
Sep 3, 2013
Draft
Examining the Effectiveness of the College Bound Program: Early Findings
Examines the impact of College Bound, a college readiness program designed to increase the college graduation rates of low-income students, most of whom are first-generation college students.
Feb 27, 2013
