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Education Policy

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Education policy includes laws as well as processes and policies that educational organizations, local districts, states, and nations put in place and follow to achieve academic goals. RAND analyses have informed education policy in the United States, United Kingdom, Qatar, and many other countries.

Commentary

How Work-Based Learning Can Bring Employers and Students Together

Jul 24, 2019

Work-based learning experiences help college grads better prepare for work. WBL programs often serve as a workforce pipeline for companies. WBL is also successful at the K–12 level and at "upskilling" adult workers. There are several ways Congress could foster and strengthen WBL.
Essay

Social and Emotional Learning Prepares Students for Life

Aug 27, 2018

The goal of social and emotional learning is to give students the skills they need to work in teams, communicate their ideas, and manage their emotions. Research can help educators determine which programs work and which ones qualify for federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Explore Education Policy

Journal Article

Journal Article

Recent Trends in Child and Family Policy in the EU: European Platform for Investing in Children: Annual Thematic Report

An annual report for the European Platform for Investing in Children, outlining new policy developments in the area of child and family policy in EU Member States and reporting on the progress of policies and activities initiated in earlier years.

Sep 4, 2019
Journal Article

Get Smart About Social and Emotional Learning Measurement

This paper provides guidance to educators and policymakers who are interested in measuring social and emotional learning practices and competencies. It is part of a series of papers on SEL published by the American Enterprise Institute.

Aug 22, 2019
Report

Report

Raising the Bar for K–12 Academics: Early Signals on How Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies Are Working for Schools, Teachers, and Students

This report, part of a four-part series on the implementation and outcomes of Louisiana's education initiatives, focuses on Louisiana's strategies to support and improve K-12 academics.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Report

The "Raising the Bar" Series on Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies to Support Students from Birth Through High School: Technical Appendix — Data Sources and Methods

This technical appendix describes the data sources, samples, and analytic methods used in a series of reports examining implementation and outcomes associated with Louisiana's education policy actions.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Report

Raising the Bar for Early Childhood Education: Early Signals on How Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies Are Working for Early Childhood Providers and Community Networks

This report, part of a four-part series on the implementation and outcomes of Louisiana's education initiatives, focuses on the state's efforts to support and improve early childhood education.

Jun 11, 2019
Research Brief

What Other States Can Learn from Louisiana's School Reform

Louisiana's education policy changes aim to improve outcomes for public school students statewide. How well are these reforms working? Analyses of the state's early efforts to reshape its education system point to several early successes, remaining challenges, and key lessons.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Report

Raising the Bar for Teacher Preparation: Early Signals on How Louisiana's Education Policy Strategies Are Working Across the State

This report, part of a four-part series on the implementation and outcomes of Louisiana's education initiatives, focuses on the state's strategies for K-12 teacher preparation.

Jun 11, 2019
Commentary

Federal Policy Might Encourage Innovation to Cut the Cost of College

A big factor in the rise of college costs is the traditional seat-time model requiring undergraduate students to spend a specified amount of time in classrooms, frequently with doctorally qualified faculty. But there are alternative models that could enable colleges and universities to offer degrees more efficiently and affordably.

Jun 5, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Translating Standardized Effects of Education Programs Into More Interpretable Metrics

Compares four ways to translate standardized effect sizes into metrics that may be easier for educators and policymakers to interpret. Concludes that translating to years of learning is a poor choice; translating to percentile gains is recommended.

May 23, 2019
Commentary

Addressing the College Completion Problem

More than half of students who enter college end up dropping out without ever completing a degree or certificate. Time and money are wasted without the benefits of a degree. While colleges are experimenting with novel techniques to boost completion rates, strategic support from the federal government could further these efforts.

May 9, 2019
Report

How Educators View the Rapid Life Cycle of School Reforms

Researchers and educators have noted the emergence of a school reform "churn." New initiatives and programs are adopted, only to be dropped when the next popular reform emerges. How do principals and teachers perceive continuity in the programs at their schools?

Apr 11, 2019
Journal Article

Teachers Can Make a Difference Beyond Their Own Classrooms

Schools may be undervaluing good teachers by at least 30 percent. How? Because they aren't considering the spillover effects that better-educated students have on their peers.

Apr 3, 2019
Brochure

Two Innovative Tools to "Take the Pulse" of America's Educators

This brochure describes the American Educator Panels—two innovative online survey tools that provide unique sources of accurate information about educators' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and working conditions

Mar 18, 2019
Brochure

Brochure

A focus on education

Education stands at the forefront of policy agendas as children grow up in an increasingly complex and connected world. A focus on education looks at the core areas in education, detailing RAND Europe's expertise and work in the sector.

Feb 6, 2019
Journal Article

Access to Quality Education for Children With Special Educational Needs

An overview of the policy and practice of EU Member States in offering children with special educational needs access to education. It sets out the policy framework, the main approaches taken by Member States, and key challenges for policy-makers.

Jan 23, 2019
Report

Investing in Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning

It can be challenging for educators to incorporate data into a narrative that informs decisions about what social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions to adopt. An evidence review companion guide can provide support for educators assessing local SEL needs.

Dec 10, 2018
Report

Report

Launching a Redesign of University Principal Preparation Programs: Partners Collaborate for Change: Executive Summary

The University Principal Preparation Initiative (UPPI) supports the redesign of principal preparation programs according to evidence-based principles and practices. This executive summary provides insight into the first year of UPPI implementation.

Oct 30, 2018
Report

Universities Are Improving Training of Future School Principals

Seven universities are beginning to change their principal preparation programs to better reflect the real-world demands of the job. They are working with local high-need school districts that hire their graduates as well as accreditation agencies in their states.

Oct 30, 2018
News Release

News Release

Universities Begin Redesigning Their Programs to Make Training of Future School Principals More Effective

Seven universities are beginning to change their principal preparation programs to better reflect the real-world demands of the job. They are working with local high-need school districts that hire their graduates as well as accreditation agencies in their states.

Oct 30, 2018
Blog

Education Policy 'Game Night' Debuts at RAND

Parents, teachers, principals, and community leaders played RAND's first education policy game. Participants had to work through scenarios affecting a fictional high school, such as how to cut its budget by 4 percent. The game showed researchers how different stakeholders might approach school improvement challenges and what drives their decisions.

Oct 11, 2018

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