Educational Institutions

  • A happy teacher calls on a student in her elementary school classroom, photo by skynesher/Getty Images

    Report

    Measuring School and Classroom Climate

    Features of a learning environment, also called school and classroom climate, are associated with higher student achievement. What do educators need to assess these features—and to help create positive, safe, and inclusive environments for students?

    Dec 11, 2019

  • A group of teachers looking at data, photo by SolStock/Getty Images

    Report

    Teachers Find Value in National Educator Survey Data

    More than 80 percent of teachers reported that their peers' responses to surveys about topics like social and emotional learning and curriculum would be useful. Those in higher-poverty schools were more likely to report that data on many topics would be useful for improving their instruction.

    Oct 10, 2019

  • A teacher pointing to a textbook helping a student, photo by monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

    Report

    Teachers Need Access to High-Quality Materials

    When asked about their instructional materials, U.S. mathematics teachers were more likely to report regular use of at least one high-quality material compared to English-language arts teachers, although high school teachers did so less than their elementary or middle school counterparts. More open-access online materials could help.

    Sep 12, 2019

  • Teachers talking in a school hallway, photo by DGLimages/Getty Images

    Report

    Educators Turn to Colleagues for Help with Struggling Students

    When students have academic or behavioral challenges, educators often consult with another teacher, support staff, principal, or district leader to weigh strategies. When selecting interventions, they consider relevance to local context, rigor of evidence, and feasibility.

    Aug 15, 2019

  • Report

    Report

    AEP Data Note Technical Appendix 2

    This technical appendix provides additional information about the sample, data, and estimation strategy that were used for a series of AEP Data Notes published by the RAND Corporation in 2019.

    Aug 15, 2019

  • A teacher holding a tablet and talking to a student, photo by Monkey Business Images/Adobe Stock

    Report

    Do Teachers Have What They Need to Support Students with Unique Learning Profiles?

    Many students face unique educational circumstances, such as learning disabilities, housing instability, and exposure to poverty. Do teachers have what they need to help these students succeed?

    Jul 11, 2019

  • A teacher helping students draw with colored pencils, photo by Jack F/Adobe Stock

    Report

    Do Educators Have What They Need to Teach Students with Disabilities?

    To serve students with high-incidence disabilities, teachers need a supportive school culture, collaboration and planning time, resources and training, access to data, and tools for using data. Survey data sheds light on the extent to which these supports are available to general and special educators in U.S. schools.

    Jun 27, 2019

  • Blog

    Iran, School Discipline, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the costs of U.S.–Iran confrontation, discipline reform in America's schools, why the North Korea problem is bigger than nukes, and more.

    Jun 21, 2019

  • Blog

    Hong Kong, Education Reform, Baghdad: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on lessons for state education reform, retaining women in the U.S. Coast Guard, recounting the Battle for Baghdad, and more.

    Jun 14, 2019

  • A row of lockers in a high school, photo by Monkey Business Images/Getty Images

    Report

    Secondary Educators Consider Discipline Reform a Priority

    One quarter of principals and 31 percent of teachers surveyed identified discipline reform as one of the top three most important interventions needed in their secondary schools. And those in high-poverty schools were more likely than those in low-poverty schools to do so.

    Jun 13, 2019

  • Principal and teachers in a staff meeting, photo by asiseeit/Getty Images

    Report

    Principals Are More Optimistic Than Teachers About School Improvement Plans

    School improvement plans have been a central feature of American school reform for over two decades. Most educators are familiar with these plans, but principals are more likely than teachers to believe that they change teaching practices and improve schools in a five-year period.

    May 16, 2019

  • College students in silhouette tossing caps in the air, photo by Rawpixel Ltd/Getty Images

    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

  • Blog

    AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the danger of artificial intelligence bias, infants with opioid withdrawal symptoms, peace talks in Afghanistan, and more.

    Mar 15, 2019

  • Two female teachers timetable and lesson planning, photo by SolStock/Getty Images

    Report

    School Leadership: Teachers and Principals May Have Different Views

    Principals almost universally rate themselves as effective in leadership practices such as communicating a clear vision for the school and setting high standards for teaching. Some teachers rate principals lower, and this mismatch in perception could have negative consequences.

    Mar 14, 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

  • A teacher trying to resolve a conflict between two elementary students

    Report

    Are Educators Setting Goals for Social-Emotional Learning?

    Evidence shows that social and emotional skills predict long-term life outcomes of students. Interventions that improve social and emotional learning (SEL) can also boost academic achievement. Many teachers and principals are setting goals for SEL growth in their schools, but 40 percent of them are not.

    Jan 16, 2019

  • University students walking on campus road

    Testimony

    Five Options for Long-Term Sustainability of Pennsylvania's State System Universities

    Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education faces significant challenges to its long-term sustainability, including population shifts and limited state funding. There are options to address these issues and avoid closures, but major structural changes will be needed.

    Apr 25, 2018

  • College students in a lecture hall

    Report

    Sustaining Pennsylvania's State System Universities

    The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is facing considerable challenges, such as demographic shifts, limited state funding, and strong competition. Options are available to address the system's long-term sustainability and viability, but major changes would be needed.

    Apr 25, 2018

  • College campus tour guide talking with prospective students

    Commentary

    National Database Could Help Students Pick College—and Income

    A bill introduced in May would create a searchable database of students' college majors and earnings after graduation. The data could help U.S. students make informed decisions and could also be used to better allocate resources that benefit students.

    Aug 1, 2017

  • A teacher meeting with a parent and her child in a classroom

    Commentary

    School Choice: How Parents Can Find Out What They Need to Know

    To make an informed choice about schools, parents need to know about the quality of instruction, services, and the overall school climate. Schools need a better system of measuring and collecting data on performance, and a way to make it accessible to families.

    Feb 21, 2017