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Educational Program Evaluation

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RAND rigorously evaluates all kinds of educational programs by performing cost-benefit analyses, measuring effects on student learning, and providing recommendations to help improve program design and implementation. Our portfolio of educational program evaluations includes studies of early childhood education, summer and after-school programs, educator pay-for-performance, programs intended to reduce educational disparities, and choice- and standards-based reforms.

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.
Report

Out-of-School Time Programs Are Worthy of Public Investment

Oct 23, 2017

Children need safe places, caring adults, and enriching activities when not in school. Out-of-school time programs build human and cultural capital and develop kids' interests and skills. Public funding helps low-income youth have experiences that may provide lasting developmental benefits.

Explore Educational Program Evaluation

Research Brief

Research Brief

The Big Lift Preschool, Two Years In: What Have We Learned So Far?

The Big Lift preschool-third-grade initiative aims to boost children's reading proficiency. This second in a series of descriptive analyses shares follow-up data on 2016-2017 kindergarten class participants and initial data on 2017-2018 participants.

Dec 12, 2018
Report

Investing in Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning: Companion Guide to Social and Emotional Learning Interventions Under the Every Student Succeeds Act: Evidence Review

How can schools, districts, and states assess their local needs and identify appropriate interventions for social and emotional learning (SEL)? This report provides insight for educators investing in evidence-based SEL interventions.

Dec 10, 2018
Commentary

Finding the Right Assessment Tool: Another Resource for Educators and Researchers

To teach something effectively, educators need to determine whether their instructional approaches are working, and make adjustments to those approaches as needed. The Assessment Work Group and RAND have developed tools to assist educators in finding and using assessments to measure social and emotional learning and higher-order cognitive competencies.

Nov 7, 2018
Report

How to Establish and Sustain Effective Summer Learning Programs

High-quality summer learning programs improve the academic, social, and emotional outcomes of low-income students, but several components are needed to make a program successful. New guidance on best practices can help districts and their community partners implement and operate effective summer programs.

Nov 4, 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
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
Commentary

The Potential for Early Years Programmes to Close the Disadvantage Gap Is Under-Examined

Many schools are looking to close the disadvantage gap in their communities, but they need more evidence about what actually works. Research that helps policymakers and practitioners understand how early years interventions can promote equity and close the disadvantage gap is needed.

Oct 12, 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
Report

Report

The Big Lift Descriptive Analyses: Kindergarten Readiness and Elementary School Reading Outcomes for the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 Kindergarten Classes

The Big Lift initiative aims to boost children's reading proficiency in San Mateo County, California. This second in a series of descriptive analyses shares follow-up data on the 2016-2017 kindergarten class and initial data for the 2017-2018 class.

Oct 10, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Commentary on the Special Issue on Social-Emotional Assessment to Guide Educational Practice

This commentary summarizes themes from the JADP special issue on social and emotional assessment and offers recommendations for effective use of assessment data to promote improved social and emotional learning experiences for students.

Oct 9, 2018
Research Brief

Research Brief

What Teachers Know and Do in the Common Core Era: Findings from the 2015–2017 American Teacher Panel

This brief describes work derived from five reports in RAND Education, which summarize some changes in what teachers know about Common Core standards and what they do in the classroom, based on RAND American Teacher Panel surveys.

Oct 2, 2018
Research Brief

Research Brief

How Do Teachers Perceive Feedback and Evaluation Systems? Findings from the American Teacher Panel

Most teachers surveyed reported receiving useful feedback, although the majority perceived feedback from fellow teachers and from coaches or mentors more positively than feedback from formal observations or from school leaders.

Sep 28, 2018
Report

What Teachers Know and Do in the Common Core Era

Have Common Core State Standards changed what teachers think and do? Survey findings suggest that states must do more to support teachers' knowledge about standards and standards-aligned practices. Online venues may be a good way to provide such support.

Sep 27, 2018
Report

Report

Evaluation of the Creating College and Career Readiness Initiative in Kentucky

This report presents findings from an evaluation of the Creating College and Career Readiness initiative, which used a suite of personalized software in the kindergarten-12th grade setting in rural Kentucky schools.

Sep 27, 2018
Commentary

Louisiana's Education System Is Evolving: Here's What Parents Need to Know

Louisiana has taken big steps to improve its education policies and the education of the state's children, from birth to grade 12. Parents can help their children benefit from the reforms by being informed about the changes and knowing how to take advantage of new resources.

Sep 12, 2018
Report

How Do Teachers Respond to Feedback?

Education leaders across the United States have revised their policies in an effort to enhance the quality of teacher evaluation measures and instructional practices. A unique survey asked teachers about their perceptions of the feedback they receive and the evaluation systems at their schools.

Jul 9, 2018
Journal Article

Does Providing Inmates with Education Improve Postrelease Outcomes? A Meta-Analysis of Correctional Education Programs in the United States

Meta-analysis demonstrates the potential value in providing inmates with educational opportunities while they serve their sentences.

Jul 3, 2018
Journal Article

Education for Incarcerated Juveniles: A Meta-Analysis

Though the evidence base about what works in juvenile correctional education remains incomplete, the existing research does suggest promising directions for future programmatic investments.

Jul 3, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Educational Program Evaluation

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RAND Education and Labor