Laura Stelitano

Associate Policy Researcher

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in learning sciences and policy, University of Pittsburgh; M.Ed. in special education, George Mason University; B.A. in anthropology, Saint Vincent College

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Laura Stelitano (she/her) is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research primarily focuses on K-12 education and policy implementation and on workforce development. Her education interests include special education and inclusion, teacher use of curricula, teacher and school leader professional development, and teacher and school responses to COVID-19. In the area of workforce development, Laura is interested in studying the improvement and alignment of workforce development systems and working with transdisciplinary teams to employ continuous improvement processes. She specializes in qualitative and mixed methods. Laura was a RAND Summer Associate in 2016 and completed her Ph.D. in learning sciences and policy at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to that she worked as a research associate at the American Institutes for Research and as a middle school special education teacher in Washington D.C. She earned her M.Ed. in special education at George Mason University and her B.A. in anthropology at Saint Vincent College.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

American Instructional Resources Survey
COVID-19 Testing in K-12 Schools
Exploring How BELL's Approach to Professional Development Transforms Teacher Practice
RAISE: C-Accel Pilot Track B2 (National Talent Ecosystem): Rapid Dissemination of AI Microcredentials through Hands-on Industrial Robotics Education (RD-AIM-HIRE)

Selected Publications

Stelitano, L., Doan, S., Woo, A., Diliberti, M., Kaufman, J., Henry, D., The Digital Divide and COVID-19: Teachers' Perceptions of Inequities in Students' Internet Access and Participation in Remote Learning, RAND Corporation (RR-A134-3), 2020

Stelitano, L., Doan, S., Diliberti, M., Teachers Lesson Modifications for Students with Disabilities: Findings from the American Instructional Resources Survey., RAND Corporation (RR-A134-6), 2021 (forthcoming)

Laura J. Faherty, Benjamin K. Master, Elizabeth D. Steiner, Julia H. Kaufman, Zachary Predmore, Laura Stelitano, Jennifer T. Leschitz, Brian Phillips, Heather L. Schwartz, Rebecca Wolfe, COVID-19 Testing in K-12 Schools Insights from Early Adopters, RAND Corporation (WR-A1103-1), 2021

Steiner, E., Stelitano, L., Bogart, A., Meyers, S., The Promise of Summer as a Time for Teacher Professional Learning: Findings from a National Survey and Implications from the BellXcel Program., RAND Corporation (RR-A196-1), 2021

Stelitano, L., Johnston, W.R., Young, C.J., Principals Could Use More Support to Help Students with Disabilities — Especially in Schools Serving Mostly Students of Color., RAND Corporation (RR-2575/13-BMGF), 2020

Stelitano, L., Doan, S., Lawrence, R., Henry, D., Teachers' Use of Intervention Programs: Who Uses Them and How Context Matters. , RAND Corporation (RR-2575/16-BMGF/SFF/OFF), 2020

Commentary

The American Rescue Plan Is a Chance to Support Students with Disabilities. Here Are Some Investments Worth Considering
National surveys of K–12 teachers provide insight into challenges for effectively educating students with disabilities during the pandemic and beyond. Understanding these challenges can help identify important funding options to address gaps.
May 5, 2021 The 74
Teachers Lost Out on Professional Learning During the Pandemic. Here's How Summer Programs Could Help
For thousands of teachers across the United States, 2020 was a year of uncertainty. Many lacked access to their usual professional learning activities. Summer programs for students that also offer learning opportunities for teachers might help make up for lost time.
Mar 5, 2021 The RAND Blog

Publications

Report
How Are Teachers Educating Students with Disabilities During the Pandemic?
In this Data Note, researchers present findings on teaching students with disabilities during a pandemic by drawing on surveys administered via the RAND American Teacher Panel to a nationally representative sample of teachers in fall 2020.
Apr 8, 2021
Report
COVID-19 Testing in K–12 Schools: Insights from Early Adopters
This report describes approaches that early adopters of COVID-19 testing in U.S. K–12 schools were using as of December 2020, highlighting key facilitators that made testing feasible, acceptable, and effective.
Mar 9, 2021
Report
Teachers' Lesson Modifications for Students with Disabilities: Findings from the 2020 American Instructional Resources Survey
In this Data Note, researchers explore teachers' reports of how much and in what ways they modify their lessons to support students with disabilities.
Feb 23, 2021
Research Brief
How Can Teachers Make the Most of Professional Learning in the Summer?
This brief summarizes an examination of the potential value of academic summer programs for students that also offer professional learning opportunities for teachers.
Jan 12, 2021
Report
The Promise of Summer as a Time for Teacher Professional Learning: Findings from a National Survey and Implications from the BellXcel Program
This report presents data from the first nationally representative survey of teachers about their summer professional learning opportunities and data from a descriptive study of BellXcel Summer, an academic summer program model for students.
Jan 12, 2021
Report
Building and Sustaining Innovative High Schools: Findings from the Opportunity by Design Study
The Opportunity by Design initiative gave support to small schools of choice to adopt a set of design principles intended to prepare students for college and careers. This final report describes the methods and findings of the five-year study.
Dec 17, 2020
Research Brief
Designing and Sustaining Innovative High Schools: Successes, Challenges, and Student Outcomes
In a five-year study, high schools adopted a set of design principles intended to prepare students for college and careers.
Dec 17, 2020
Report
American Instructional Resources Surveys: 2020 Technical Documentation and Survey Results
This technical report provides information about the sample, survey instrument, and resultant data for the American Instructional Resources Surveys administered to principals and teachers in spring 2020 via RAND's American Educator Panels.
Sep 24, 2020
Report
The Digital Divide and COVID-19: Teachers' Perceptions of Inequities in Students' Internet Access and Participation in Remote Learning
Researchers investigate the relationship between teachers' reports of students' internet access and their interaction with students and families during school closures related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sep 24, 2020
Report
Teachers' Use of Intervention Programs: Who Uses Them and How Context Matters
In this Data Note, researchers explore the prevalence of teachers' use of intervention programs, which are designed to help students performing below grade level. Researchers also explore how teachers' use of such programs may vary by school context.
Mar 19, 2020
Report
Principals Could Use More Support to Help Students with Disabilities — Especially in Schools Serving Mostly Students of Color
This American Educator Panels Data Note provides insights into principals' perceptions of the supports available for helping students with disabilities.
Dec 31, 2019
Report
Putting Professional Learning to Work: What Principals Do with Their Executive Development Program Learning
This report presents findings from part of RAND's evaluation of the National Institute for School Leadership's Executive Development Program (EDP) for sitting school principals, focusing on how principals applied their EDP learning and coaching.
Oct 7, 2019
Report
Supporting Students with High-Incidence Disabilities in U.S. Schools: National Findings from the American Educator Panels
In this report, researchers explore the extent to which supports are available to both general and special educators who teach students with high-incidence disabilities.
Jun 27, 2019
Research Brief
Early Insights on Designing Innovative High Schools: Interim Findings from an Evaluation of the Opportunity by Design Initiative
Summarizes lessons from RAND's interim evaluation of the Opportunity by Design initiative and provides a number of recommendations that may be of interest to schools and districts implementing or considering implementation of similar approaches.
Oct 19, 2017
Report
Designing Innovative High Schools: Implementation of the Opportunity by Design Initiative After Two Years
RAND evaluated the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Opportunity by Design high school redesign initiative. The data in this interim report describe implementation facilitators and challenges after two years.
Sep 21, 2017