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Educational Institutions

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

    Mar 29, 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

  • Adult students attending a computer course

    Commentary

    Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers

    Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.

    Feb 16, 2017

  • Professor and university students in a lecture hall

    Commentary

    Before We Measure Teaching Quality, We Should Know What It Is

    The lack of an evidence base on teaching quality and its impact in higher education points to a need for more research, made more pressing by the imminent roll-out of the Teaching Excellence Framework, which intends to assess and monitor teaching quality at UK higher education institutions.

    Nov 29, 2016

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Review of the Research Literature on Defining and Demonstrating Quality Teaching and Impact in Higher Education

    RAND Europe conducted a review of literature published since 2012, with the aim of identifying and summarising the key trends and issues in the literature on how 'quality teaching' and its impact are currently being defined and demonstrated at higher education institutions.

    Nov 18, 2016

  • A school principal working in her office

    Report

    Are Principals Getting the Support They Need?

    A nationally representative sample of principals reported having some form of on-the-job support available during the past school year, but less than a third indicated their district provided a combination of regular supervisory communication, mentoring, and at least one day of professional development.

    Oct 31, 2016

  • Three college students walking to class

    Commentary

    The High Cost of Free College

    Tuition subsidies may encourage institutions to raise tuition, since the government would foot the bill. One possible solution: develop and implement policies that encourage greater productivity from higher education institutions.

    Aug 1, 2016

  • Cadets of the Air Force Academy Class of 2003 celebrate at graduation ceremonies on May 28, 2003 as the Air Force Thunderbirds fly overhead

    Research Brief

    How Effective Are Military Academy Admission Standards?

    This brief summarizes the results of analysis of the applicant scoring systems that the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy use for admission.

    Jul 22, 2016

  • Report

    Report

    United States Service Academy Admissions: Selecting for Success at the Air Force Academy and as an Officer

    This report examines admission standards at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and officer outcomes to evaluate whether the USAFA admissions formula should be adjusted.

    Jul 22, 2016

  • Jar with "college" label and money

    Commentary

    Reframing the 'Free College' Debate

    Free college may make for a terrific sound bite on the campaign trail, but it rings hollow. Framing the future of college as a debate about whether it should be free is a lost opportunity to discuss what's really wrong with higher education in America—and a missed chance to help young Americans regain lost competitiveness in the workforce.

    Apr 14, 2016

  • Elementary students in a classroom with a teacher

    Commentary

    Implementing Education Reforms to Enhance School Performance

    Although countries differ greatly in how their education systems are structured, financed, and the extent to which they are centralized, they share common obstacles that undermine reform success. Beyond the obvious steps of providing adequate resources and professional development, there are ways to improve the implementation of school-wide reforms.

    Nov 13, 2015

  • College student discussing assignment with tutor

    Commentary

    The Shared Savings Model: An Innovative Way to Attack Rapidly Rising College Costs

    The challenge facing policymakers is how to lessen the college cost pressure felt by families while incentivizing institutions to innovate to reduce cost and improve quality. What if cost savings from increased productivity were quantified and a portion returned to institutions?

    Oct 22, 2015

  • Graduates holding diplomas.

    Report

    Leveraging Shared Savings to Promote High-Quality, Cost-Effective Higher Education

    This Perspective proposes a new funding model in higher education that leverages the savings generated when institutions increase productivity.

    Oct 22, 2015

  • A young student sitting outside in a school corridor

    Commentary

    Rethinking Student Discipline and Zero Tolerance

    Restorative practices are an alternative to zero-tolerance school discipline policies. Rather than mandating prescribed punishments for specific misbehaviors, this more tailored approach aims to empower students.

    Oct 14, 2015

  • Workers prepare to change drilling pipes on the rotary table of a natural gas rig near Towanda, Pennsylvania, February 3, 2010

    Research Brief

    Aligning Education and Training to Meet Energy Workforce Needs

    Energy-sector employers in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania report having difficulty filling semiskilled jobs. And the sector's technology is changing quickly. How can the region's leaders improve the workforce-development pipeline?

    Aug 31, 2015

  • Pipeline construction

    Report

    Energy-Sector Workforce Development in West Virginia

    The production of natural gas and gas liquids from shale in West Virginia has increased demand for workers. Ten action items can help the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia and other stakeholders support a well-aligned and coherent workforce-development pipeline.

    Aug 31, 2015

  • Working welder

    Report

    Energy-Sector Workforce Development in Southwestern Pennsylvania

    Technological innovations in the energy sector have increased demand for semiskilled labor in southwestern Pennsylvania. How can postsecondary educational and training programs adapt to the evolving skills demand?

    Aug 31, 2015