Academic Achievement

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$Photo illustration featuring math teacher Candace Jackson and classroom imagery., photos by Alfexe, Skynesher, and Ridofranz/Getty Images and Candace Jackson, design by Haley Okuley/RAND.$
Math Teachers’ Efforts Can Really Add Up
New RAND research reveals that teachers wield incredible influence in leveling the playing field in math class—and in helping students achieve their full potential.
Mar 19, 2024

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Chronic Absenteeism and Math Learning Loss Are Adding Up: What We Can Do About It
It may sound obvious, but K–12 students need to attend school in order to learn. A necessary first step to helping students—particularly Black students, Hispanic students, and low-income students—recover learning in math is to support them to attend school. What can educators and parents do?
Mar 4, 2024
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Middle School Math Matters More Than You May Realize
Many eighth graders don't even have access to algebra I, let alone geometry. Even when those courses are offered, the criteria for who can enroll vary a lot. Together, these circumstances can lead to deep inequities in who gets into advanced math classes by high school.
Feb 26, 2024
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A Four-Day School Week? Here Are the Costs and Benefits
Hundreds of small school districts across America have cut one day a week from their calendars. A shorter school week helps them compete for teachers and reduce costs. Teachers and parents love it. But is it really in the best interests of students?
Aug 31, 2023
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Much of the Damage in Maui Will Be Invisible, but Very Real
In addition to decimating buildings and other infrastructure, disasters also destroy human capital, the collective knowledge and skills that drive individual economic earnings, as well as regional economic growth. Failing to address these more-hidden damages is incredibly costly.
Aug 21, 2023
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Social Studies Achievement Has Plummeted Nationally. Four Reasons This Trend Will Not Be Reversed Without Systemic Action
The U.S. Department of Education recently released results from the latest national social studies assessments. U.S. history scores continued a previous pattern of decline and civics scores declined for the first time ever. Reversing these trends will require concerted effort and increased investments at all levels of the U.S. education system.
May 22, 2023
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The Four-Day School Week: Are the Pros Worth the Cons?
The past two decades have seen an explosion in the adoption of the four-day school week. Against this growing trend, however, there is increasing evidence that, by and large, a four-day school week causes student achievement to suffer.
Apr 6, 2023
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Can Grade Retention Help with COVID-19 Learning Recovery in Schools?
Early grade retention is getting more attention as a potential way to make up for missed learning during the pandemic. But retaining kids without providing the necessary supports or failing to identify the right kids using objective criteria will likely yield ineffective results or even lead to adverse effects.
Mar 28, 2023
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Summer Learning Is More Popular Than Ever. How to Make Sure Your District's Program Is Effective
In the best of times, it is no small feat to put together a quality summer learning program. Given that districts are focusing not only on academic recovery from COVID learning loss, but on retaining teachers, supporting students' and teachers' mental health, and addressing increases in misbehavior, they need immediate, digestible guidance for summer programming.
Mar 30, 2022
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Commit Now to Get Summer Programming Right
When summer programs are targeted to needs, intentionally designed, and well attended, they produce positive outcomes in math and reading. But these programs need federal support, and they require early planning.
Apr 15, 2021
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Engaging Learning Spaces Are Important, Even During a Pandemic
While considering new uses for and formations of school space, planners might also consider whether these spaces will be conducive to learning. Research links the physical condition of learning spaces to improved student physical health and academic performance.
Aug 18, 2020
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The COVID Slide: How to Help Students Recover Learning Losses
Research shows that summer breaks contribute to income-based achievement and opportunity gaps for youth. How can we use what we know about summer learning to help kids in the age of COVID-19?
Jul 9, 2020
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Is It Time to Rethink the Separation Between the High School and Postsecondary Systems?
We do not yet know how long or deep this economic downturn will be, or how the pandemic will affect the way we work and learn. But just as the post-coronavirus workplace is surely being re-envisioned, this crisis should motivate us to reconsider the structure of our educational system. Early college is a model that can help inform these discussions.
Apr 16, 2020
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What LAUSD Can Learn from the New York City Community Schools Initiative
A study of New York City's community schools found improved academic performance, higher attendance, and other positive outcomes for disadvantaged students. This model could benefit similar efforts underway in Los Angeles, where 80 percent of students live in poverty.
Jan 28, 2020
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Investing in Principals Helps Students Succeed
Hiring good principals is one of the most important things a district can do for its students, second only to hiring good teachers. Students whose schools participated in a principal pipeline initiative outperformed their peers by six percentage points on reading tests and nearly three points in math.
Jul 5, 2019
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For Teachers, a Good Boss Makes All the Difference
Districts that try to place an effective leader in every school could reap educational benefits in the classroom. Giving a teacher a good boss also could be a powerful element in a broader strategy to recruit and retain highly effective educators.
Apr 4, 2019

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Quoted

Mandatory evacuation orders are issued when disasters have potentially life-threatening impacts. Disaster after disaster, orders resulted in evacuations that have saved untold lives. Milton is rapidly intensifying and expected to be one of the largest hurricanes on record when it hits the United States. Staying in place could have severe, life-threatening consequences.

Aaron Clark-Ginsberg

Behavioral/Social Scientist

Source: rand.org

The mechanisms behind the apparent adverse effects of climate change on human health are not entirely understood. However, the need for pre-planning for these events to prevent poor health outcomes is clear. Especially among the most vulnerable populations, it is critical to develop and implement mitigating strategies.

Mahshid Abir

Senior Physician Policy Researcher, Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Source: rand.org

How to Support Victims of Elder Mistreatment

Climate Change Affects Health and Will Increase Drug Demand

Evacuating from Hurricane Milton: What the Whole Community Can Do

Hurricane Milton: The Latest Climate-Related Threat to American Health

The Math Equity Equation

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Academic Achievement

Math Teachers’ Efforts Can Really Add Up

Chronic Absenteeism and Math Learning Loss Are Adding Up: What We Can Do About It

Middle School Math Matters More Than You May Realize

A Four-Day School Week? Here Are the Costs and Benefits

Much of the Damage in Maui Will Be Invisible, but Very Real

Social Studies Achievement Has Plummeted Nationally. Four Reasons This Trend Will Not Be Reversed Without Systemic Action

The Four-Day School Week: Are the Pros Worth the Cons?

Can Grade Retention Help with COVID-19 Learning Recovery in Schools?

Summer Learning Is More Popular Than Ever. How to Make Sure Your District's Program Is Effective

Commit Now to Get Summer Programming Right

Engaging Learning Spaces Are Important, Even During a Pandemic

The COVID Slide: How to Help Students Recover Learning Losses

Is It Time to Rethink the Separation Between the High School and Postsecondary Systems?

What LAUSD Can Learn from the New York City Community Schools Initiative

Investing in Principals Helps Students Succeed

For Teachers, a Good Boss Makes All the Difference

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