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Middle Atlantic States

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Understanding the Roots of Dramatic Black-White Cancer Disparities in the Nation's Capital

The burden of cancer is not experienced equally across the population: Nationwide, black Americans have higher rates of death from cancer than white Americans, and nowhere has this disparity been more apparent than in the nation's capital, writes Rebecca Anhang Price.

Oct 22, 2012
News Release

Cancer Disparities Between D.C. Blacks and Whites Greater Than Those Nationwide

Across the United States in 2009, overall cancer incidence was 4 percent higher among blacks than among whites. The disparity was more striking in Washington, D.C., where the overall cancer incidence among black residents was 54 percent higher than the incidence among white residents.

Oct 22, 2012
Journal Article

How Much Difference Does the Lawyer Make in Philadelphia Murder Cases?

One in five indigent murder defendants in Philadelphia are randomly assigned representation by public defenders while the remainder receive court-appointed private attorneys. Compared to appointed counsel, public defenders in Philadelphia reduce their clients' murder conviction rate by 19%, lower the probability of a life sentence by 62%, and reduce overall expected time served in prison by 24%.

Oct 1, 2012
Report

Cancer Disparities Between D.C. Blacks and Whites Greater Than Those Nationwide

Across the United States in 2009, overall cancer incidence was 4 percent higher among blacks than among whites. The disparity was more striking in Washington, D.C., where the overall cancer incidence among black residents was 54 percent higher than the incidence among white residents.

Sep 6, 2012
Commentary

School Principals Respond to Performance-Based Evaluation System

It's fair to say the program turned out to be an important step for the district in the context of its overall reform plan considering how important high-quality school leadership is for improving teaching and learning, write Laura Hamilton and John Engberg.

Aug 15, 2012
Journal Article

Impact of a Private Health Insurance Mandate on Public Sector Autism Service Use in Pennsylvania

Many states have implemented regulations (commonly referred to as waivers) to increase access to publicly insured services for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Aug 1, 2012
Research Brief

Improving School Leadership Through the Pittsburgh Principal Incentive Program

A RAND Corporation report examines the Pittsburgh Principal Incentive Program's implementation, how principals have responded to the reforms, and what outcomes followed program implementation.

Jul 2, 2012
Report

What Are the Effects of Performance-Based Compensation for Principals?

This study examines the effects of financial incentives for Pittsburgh principals on teacher supervision, student achievement, and gaps between high- and low-achieving students. Findings suggest that the incentives have had positive impacts, however, performance-based compensation requires more scrutiny.

Jun 25, 2012
Blog

Could Coal Mine Drainage Be Used for Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction?

A recent RAND report examines the feasibility and challenges of using coal mine drainage for hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale.

Apr 27, 2012
Report

Could Coal Mine Drainage Be Used for Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction?

There are large quantities of coal mine water in Pennsylvania—much more than could be used in the coming decade for hydraulic fracturing. Researchers and operators will need to further explore quantity and quality needs to confirm whether coal mine drainage sources represent a viable, large-scale alternative to fresh water.

Apr 16, 2012
Journal Article

Simultaneous One-Sided Tests with Application to Education Evaluation Systems

In this article, we discuss controlling simultaneous errors in classification of teachers or schools by a decision-theoretic approach.

Feb 1, 2012
Report

National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches: Assessing Program Outcomes

Shares the results of Safe Start Promising Approaches, a community-based initiative that implemented and evaluated promising and evidence-based programs to prevent and reduce the impact of children's exposure to violence in 15 U.S. program sites.

Jan 4, 2012
Journal Article

Do Incentive Pay Programs Affect Teacher Motivation?

Teacher surveys from three different pay-for-performance programs showed that most teachers did not report their program as motivating. None of the programs changed instruction, increased hours worked or job stress, or damaged collegiality.

Jan 1, 2012
Journal Article

A New Estimate of the Impact of OSHA Inspections on Manufacturing Injury Rates, 1998-2005

A prior study indicated that the effect of OSHA inspections on lost workday injuries had declined from 1979 through 1998. This study provides an updated estimate for 1998–2005.

Jan 1, 2012
Journal Article

Micropolitics of Implementing a School-Based Bonus Policy: The Case of New York City's Compensation Committees

This article examines the micropolitics of implementing New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program and school governance bodies (Compensation Committees) that determined distribution of school-level rewards among personnel.

Jan 1, 2012
Research Brief

Pittsburgh Community Perspectives on the Design of the New Environmental Center at Frick Park

Many Pittsburgh residents in the communities around Frick Park are interested in environmental issues and education, and some use the park. However, awareness of the park and its Environmental Center could be improved, and barriers to use addressed.

Dec 5, 2011
Journal Article

What Are Achievement Gains Worth -- to Teachers?

In 2007, New York City schools commenced a school-level pay-for-performance program for teachers and staff in about 200 schools. The authors found that the program didn't improve schools or student outcomes.

Dec 1, 2011
Report

Community Engagement as Input to the Design of the Environmental Center at Frick Park and Beyond

We obtained community group and resident input into the design of the new environmental center building at Frick Park (in Pittsburgh, Pa.) and acquired information about residents' attitudes toward and use of Frick Park more generally.

Nov 8, 2011
Journal Article

Integrating Schools Is a Matter of Housing Policy

Inclusionary zoning and economic integration in suburban neighborhoods not only reduces concentration of poverty, it directly improves low-income children's academic achievement.

Oct 1, 2011
Commentary

The Debate over Teacher Merit Pay: A Freakonomics Quorum

Motivation alone does not improve schools. Even if incentives inspire staff to improve practices or work together, educators may not have the capacity or resources to bring about improvement, writes Julie Marsh.

Sep 20, 2011

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