RAND Research Topic: School Services 2021-04-19T09:51:06Z Copyright (c) 2021, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation https://www.rand.org/topics/school-services.html Making Schools Safer And/Or Escalating Disciplinary Response Lucy C. Sorensen; Yinzhi Shen; Shawn David Bushway https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68600.html 2021-04-13T09:15:00Z 2021-04-13T09:15:00Z In this study, we try to understand the causal role that school resource officers play in school safety and the day-to-day practice of school discipline by using incident-level administrative data from North Carolina public schools. Getting to Work on Summer Learning Heather L. Schwartz; Jennifer Sloan McCombs; Catherine H. Augustine; Jennifer T. Leschitz https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA205-3.html 2021-03-25T08:30:00Z 2021-03-25T08:30:00Z The authors distill lessons about implementing and improving summer learning programs gleaned from a six-year study in the five urban districts participating in the National Summer Learning Project. School Food and Beverage Availability and Children's Diet, Purchasing, and Obesity Andrea Richardson; Nancy Nicosia; Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar; Ashlesha Datar https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68557.html 2021-03-11T09:30:00Z 2021-03-11T09:30:00Z We examined whether the number of competitive food and beverage items available for purchase in school, overall and by type (unhealthy, healthy, neutral), was associated with in-school food purchases, dietary behaviors, and body mass index outcomes. Every Summer Counts Jennifer Sloan McCombs; Catherine H. Augustine; John F. Pane; Jonathan Schweig https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3201.html 2020-12-17T09:15:00Z 2020-12-17T09:15:00Z This seventh report in a series presents longitudinal findings on the effectiveness of voluntary summer learning programs in five school districts. The authors also offer implications for policy on narrowing the achievement gap between students. How to Support Social and Emotional Learning in School and Out of School Heather L. Schwartz; Laura S. Hamilton; Susannah Faxon-Mills; Celia J. Gomez; Alice Huguet; Lisa H. Jaycox; Jennifer T. Leschitz; Andrea Prado Tuma; Katie Tosh; Anamarie A. Whitaker; Stephani L. Wrabel https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA379-1.html 2020-10-20T09:00:00Z 2020-10-20T09:00:00Z Do children benefit when schools and out-of-school time programs partner to improve and align social and emotional learning (SEL)? Lessons from six communities that made such efforts can help school districts and out-of-school time providers implement their own SEL programs. Early Lessons from Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs Implementing Social and Emotional Learning Heather L. Schwartz; Laura S. Hamilton; Susannah Faxon-Mills; Celia J. Gomez; Alice Huguet; Lisa H. Jaycox; Jennifer T. Leschitz; Andrea Prado Tuma; Katie Tosh; Anamarie A. Whitaker; Stephani L. Wrabel https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA379-3.html 2020-10-20T09:00:00Z 2020-10-20T09:00:00Z In this summary, RAND researchers describe the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative, as well as findings and early lessons from the first two years of implementation in the six participating communities. The Promise of Community Schools William R. Johnston; John Engberg; Isaac M. Opper; Lisa Sontag-Padilla; Lea Xenakis https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB10107.html 2020-01-28T09:00:00Z 2020-01-28T09:00:00Z The New York City Community Schools Initiative is based on a holistic strategy of education reform. Academics, health and wellness, youth development, and family engagement are integrated into each school. This approach had positive effects on most of the examined student outcomes. Illustrating the Promise of Community Schools William R. Johnston; John Engberg; Isaac M. Opper; Lisa Sontag-Padilla; Lea Xenakis https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3245.html 2020-01-28T09:00:00Z 2020-01-28T09:00:00Z This report presents the impact of the New York Community Schools Initiative (NYC-CS) through the 2017--2018 school year by assessing the effects along seven outcome domains based on student- and school-level characteristics. The Organizational Landscape of Schools Andrea Prado Tuma https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68059.html 2020-01-24T09:45:00Z 2020-01-24T09:45:00Z Based on my analysis, I extend theory on the role of neighborhood organizations in creating overlap and connection between the school and the community and extend work on organizational members' sense-making about the organizational field. Putting Data to Work for Young People Paul Youngmin Yoo; Anamarie A. Whitaker; Jennifer Sloan McCombs https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL350.html 2019-10-15T08:00:00Z 2019-10-15T08:00:00Z This ten-step plan should help expanded learning nonprofits address challenges related to data collection and management and therefore make after-school and summer programs better and more accessible for students. Kids from Low-Income Families Are Less Likely to Participate in Sports Anamarie A. Whitaker; Garrett Baker; Luke J. Matthews; Jennifer Sloan McCombs; Mark Barrett https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2581.html 2019-07-18T11:00:00Z 2019-07-18T11:00:00Z Parents, school administrators, and community sports program leaders agree that sports participation provides kids with benefits. But only 52 percent of lower-income parents involve their children in sports, compared with 66 percent of higher-income parents, in part because of rising costs and time commitments. Secondary Educators Consider Discipline Reform a Priority Rachel Perera; Courtney Armstrong https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2575z6-1.html 2019-06-13T09:00:00Z 2019-06-13T09:00:00Z 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. Relative Influence of Perceived Peer and Family Substance Use on Adolescent Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Across Middle and High School Megan S. Schuler; Joan S. Tucker; Eric R. Pedersen; Elizabeth J. D'Amico https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67760.html 2018-12-20T12:00:00Z 2018-12-20T12:00:00Z Substance use prevention efforts that seek to counter peer pressures should begin prior to middle school and span high school, and address the role of peer and family environments. How to Establish and Sustain Effective Summer Learning Programs Heather L. Schwartz; Jennifer Sloan McCombs; Catherine H. Augustine; Jennifer T. Leschitz https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR366-1.html 2018-12-04T12:20:00Z 2018-12-04T12:20:00Z 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. Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools Lisa H. Jaycox; Audra K. Langley; Sharon A. Hoover https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL272.html 2018-11-15T09:30:00Z 2018-11-15T09:30:00Z Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools, or CBITS, helps students who have experienced significant trauma. The program focuses on decreasing symptoms related to trauma exposure, managing stress and anxiety, and building peer and caregiver support. Cumulative and Differential Effects of Early Child Care and Middle Childhood Out-of-School Time on Adolescent Functioning Deborah L. Vandell; Kenneth T.H. Lee; Anamarie A. Whitaker; Kim M. Pierce https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67700.html 2018-09-06T08:15:00Z 2018-09-06T08:15:00Z Effects associated with early childcare and middle childhood organized activities were examined in a sample of adolescents. Higher quality early childcare AND more epochs of organized activities were linked to higher academic achievement at age 15. Student-Run Mental Health Education Efforts May Help Improve Mental Health Climate on College Campuses Lisa Sontag-Padilla; Feifei Ye; Courtney Ann Kase; Rebecca Fein; Sara Abelson; Rachana Seelam; Bradley D. Stein https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67634.html 2018-06-27T03:01:00Z 2018-06-27T03:01:00Z Getting college students to engage with peer-run organizations that focus on mental health awareness can improve college students' knowledge about mental health, reduce stigma, and may play an important role in improving the campus climate toward mental health. Opening School-Based Health Clinics Can Lower Teacher Health Costs John Engberg; Jon Harris-Shapiro; David Hines; Patti McCarver; Harry H. Liu https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67643.html 2018-06-20T16:30:00Z 2018-06-20T16:30:00Z Opening onsite health clinics to provide comprehensive primary care to teachers and their families can lower a school district's health care costs and decrease teacher absenteeism. Enriching Kids Jennifer Sloan McCombs; Anamarie A. Whitaker; Paul Youngmin Yoo https://www.rand.org/pubs/infographics/IG134.html 2018-05-31T12:30:00Z 2018-05-31T12:30:00Z This infographic provides an overview of the opportunity and attainment gaps between high-and low-income students and how public funding for after-school programs can help address these gaps. School Practices to Promote Social Distancing in K-12 Schools Lori Uscher-Pines; Heather L. Schwartz; Faruque Ahmed; Yenlik Zheteyeva; Erika Meza; Garrett Baker; Amra Uzicanin https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67590.html 2018-05-04T12:00:00Z 2018-05-04T12:00:00Z Little information is available to schools to develop policies and procedures on social distancing during a flu pandemic. Additional research is needed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of these policies and procedures.