Research Brief
How Does Repeating a Grade Impact Students' High School Persistence and Behavior? The Case of New York City
A study examining the long-term causal effects of student retention in grades 3 through 8 found no evidence of systematic effects on attendance and suspensions. Retention in earlier grades was less likely to produce disadvantageous outcomes.
Jul 30, 2018
Draft
The Effects of Grade Retention on High School Outcomes: Evidence from New York City Schools
Examines the causal impact of grade retention on high school attainment outcomes.
Jul 30, 2018
Report
Training Success for U.S. Air Force Special Operations and Combat Support Specialties: An Analysis of Recruiting, Screening, and Development Processes
This report addresses challenges for implementing new approaches to Air Force high-demand, high-attrition specialty recruiting, screening, and development processes, and takes a holistic approach to identifying methods to fill gaps in processes.
May 15, 2018
Journal Article
An Item Response Theory Approach to Estimating Survey Mode Effects: Analysis of Data from a Randomized Mode Experiment
Survey respondents assigned to an aural mode (e.g., telephone) more often endorse the first and especially the last item compared with those assigned to a visual mode (mail).
May 31, 2017
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
Report
Recommendations for Improving the Recruiting and Hiring of Los Angeles Firefighters
Reviews the Los Angeles Fire Department's hiring practices as of June 2014 and outlines a recommended new firefighter hiring process.
Jan 22, 2015
Report
Improving Demographic Diversity in the U.S. Air Force Officer Corps
Examines the relative scarcity of minorities and women among senior leaders (i.e., colonel and above) in the uniformed Air Force, with the goal of identifying contributing factors and potential policy responses.
May 20, 2014
Journal Article
The Academic Effects of Summer Instruction and Retention in New York City
This article examines the impacts of summer instruction and test-based grade retention in New York City.
Mar 1, 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
Journal Article
A Model for Teacher Effects from Longitudinal Data Without Assuming Vertical Scaling
The authors developed a "generalized persistence" (GP) model, a Bayesian multivariate model for estimating teacher effects that accommodates longitudinal data that are not vertically scaled by allowing less than perfect correlation of a teacher's effects across test administrations.
2010
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 33, No. 3, Winter 2009-2010
Features focus on stabilization missions, grade retention, health financing, and RAND's president; other items discuss the European Union, sodium, health insurance, retail medical clinics, energy efficiency, disaster recovery, and alcohol pricing.
Dec 23, 2009
Research Brief
Ending Social Promotion in New York City Public Schools Without Leaving Children Behind
RAND researchers conducted a three-year study of New York City's promotion policy, using interviews, case studies, student surveys, and demographic and test score data to determine its effects on the outcomes of 5th-grade students held to the policy.
Oct 9, 2009
Report
Ending Social Promotion Without Leaving Children Behind: The Case of New York City
The New York City Department of Education asked RAND to conduct a longitudinal evaluation of its 5th-grade promotion policy. The findings provide a comprehensive view of the policy's implementation and its impact on student outcomes.
Sep 29, 2009
Draft
Achievement of Students in Multi-Grade Classrooms: Evidence from the Los Angeles Unified School District
Presents new evidence on the achievement of students in multigrade classrooms.
Aug 5, 2009
Research Brief
Lessons Learned from Developing and Implementing the Qatar Student Assessment System (Arabic version)
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.
Jul 29, 2009
Research Brief
Lessons Learned from Developing and Implementing the Qatar Student Assessment System
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.
Jul 1, 2009
Report
Lessons from the Field: Developing and Implementing the Qatar Student Assessment System, 2002-2006
This report recounts the development of Qatar's internationally benchmarked standards-based assessment system, providing important lessons learned for Qatar and other countries that are seeking to implement standards-based educational reforms.
Mar 17, 2009
Research Brief
Health Coverage Options for Military Retirees
This research brief summarizes the results of a 2006 pilot survey of military retirees, providing information on retirees' enrollment in civilian health care plans and reliance on TRICARE, the Department of Defense-sponsored health insurance.
Jul 4, 2007
Report
Civilian Health Insurance Options of Military Retirees: Findings from a Pilot Survey
Results of a pilot survey (in early 2006) of military retirees offer useful information on retirees' health care status, enrollment in civilian health care plans, and reliance on TRICARE, the Department of Defense-sponsored health insurance.
Jun 26, 2007
Journal Article
Bayesian Methods for Scalable Multivariate Value-Added Assessment
Interest in value-added models relying on longitudinal student-level test score data to isolate teachers' contributions to student achievement.
2007
Report
Evaluating Comprehensive School Reform Models at Scale: Focus on Implementation
Describes and applies a methodology for quantitatively measuring a school's level of comprehensive reform, and summarizes results.
Nov 7, 2006
Research Brief
When It Comes to Terrorism, How Prepared Are Local and State Agencies?
This research brief presents results of a survey of state and local response organizations to learn what they have done to improve their ability to respond to terrorist incidents since 9/11, how they have improved, and what still needs improvement.
Nov 7, 2006
Research Brief
Comprehensive School Reform: The Implementation Gap
This research brief explains that at the current level of implementation, comprehensive school reform can be expected to have little effect on student achievement.
Nov 3, 2006
Report
Combating Terrorism: How Prepared Are State and Local Response Organizations?
Results of a national survey of state and local response organizations' activities following 9/11 to improve preparedness to deal with terrorist incidents and other disasters.
Nov 1, 2006
Report
Public Health Preparedness: Integrating Public Health and Hospital Preparedness Programs
Examines different models for coordination that have been employed by local health departments and general acute-care hospitals to improve public health preparedness.
May 19, 2006
Journal Article
Challenges for Value-Added Assessment of Teacher Effects
The use of standardized test scores to facilitate school reform is now a cornerstone of education policy in the United States.
2005
Draft
Assessing The Implementation Of Comprehensive School Reform Models
Oct 20, 2004
Research Brief
Syndromic Surveillance: An Effective Tool for Detecting Bioterrorism?
To aid the early detection of bioterror events, public health officials and researchers have developed a new method called syndromic surveillance.
2004
Journal Article
Syndromic Surveillance: Is It Worth the Effort?
Unlike bombings, bioterrorism can be invisible, unapparent until people become ill, spreading silently as infected people interact with others.
2004