Educational indicators : a guide for policymakers

Jeannie Oakes

Expert InsightsPublished 1986

Policymakers need to understand the uses and abuses of the education system's principal diagnostic tools--educational indicators. Those in positions to use indicators and pay for their collection must understand what the realistic information returns are from investing in them. This paper from the Center for Policy Research in Education is designed to help education decisionmakers understand the legitimate roles indicators might play in monitoring the condition of the educational system, tracking changes over time, and anticipating future change. It defines educational indicators, explains their principal applications, describes some of their limitations, and reviews the current state of the indicator art.

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Oakes, Jeannie, Educational indicators : a guide for policymakers. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1986. https://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers-education/OPE1.html.
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This publication is part of the RAND occasional paper (education) series. The occasional paper (education) series was a product of RAND from 1985 to 1992.

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