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Report
Are Income Share Agreements a Viable Alternative to Student Loans?
Under an income share agreement (ISA), the student promises a share of their future income to a funder for a set period in exchange for money for school. ISAs have benefits, but their contract terms vary, they exist in a legal gray zone, and there are equity implications.
Aug 22, 2023
Report
Using AI to Identify Youth Suicide Risk: What Does the Evidence Say?
In response to the youth mental health crisis, some schools have begun using artificial intelligence to help identify students at risk for suicide and self-harm. How are these tools being used? Are they accurate? And what risks might they bring?
Dec 5, 2023

Explore Students

Journal Article
Predicting the Quality of Revisions in Argumentative Writing
The ability to revise is key to students’ writing success. Identifying whether an argument revision (AR) is successful is complex because it depends on the argument context (AC). We developed Chain-of-Thought prompts to facilitate ChatGPT-generated ACs for AR quality predictions.
Nov 30, 2023
Journal Article
Students' Consumption of High and Low Nutrition Foods and Reduced Plate Waste by Schools' Wellness-Related Policies and Garden Program Participation
Participation in school-based programs that may support children's nutritious dietary behaviours varies across schools. We examined school participation in wellness-related policies, school-based garden programs and students' dietary behaviours.
Nov 6, 2023
Journal Article
The Widening Achievement Gap Between Rich and Poor in a Nordic Country
We study a decade of achievement gaps for fifth-, eighth-, and 10th-grade students in Norway using administrative population data.
Oct 16, 2023
Report
How Can K–12 Principals Support Student Success and Well-Being? Interviews with Parents to Support Equitable and Culturally Responsive Leadership
This report presents insights from parents about ways principals can support students' academic success and well-being and actions principals can take that align with national standards for equitable and culturally responsive school leadership.
Sep 28, 2023
Journal Article
The Thin Blue Line in Schools: New Evidence on School-Based Policing Across the U.S.
We find that school resource officers reduce some forms of violence, but do not prevent gun-related incidents. We also find that SROs intensify the use of suspension, expulsion, police referral, and arrest of students.
Sep 11, 2023
Tool
Decoding Income Share Agreements: A Resource for Learners and Financial Aid Professionals
This tool is designed to help people figure out whether an income share agreement (ISA) is right for them. It provides information about how ISAs work, how to estimate monthly and total ISA payments, and how to weigh the benefits and risks of ISAs.
Aug 31, 2023
Journal Article
Assessment of Exposure to High-Performing Schools and Risk of Adolescent Substance Use: A Natural Experiment
We analyzed a natural experiment of 1270 students who applied to charter school lotteries in low-income communities in Los Angeles. Results provide evidence that school environments can improve risky behaviors for low-income minority adolescents.
Jul 25, 2023
Commentary
The EU Can't Treat Ukrainian Refugees Like Short-Term Visitors
Although EU countries, communities, and citizens have been very welcoming to Ukrainian refugees, it is not enough to treat them as short-term visitors, meet their immediate humanitarian needs, and let them wait out the war. By educating and employing them instead, EU countries can enrich their own communities and support Ukraine.
Jul 24, 2023
Report
Teaching and Leading: An Evaluation of the Impacts and Professional Trajectories of Teach For America Participants in Indianapolis
The authors quantify the impacts of Teach For America Indianapolis (TFA Indy) on student and school outcomes in the Indianapolis area, by evaluating the effectiveness and retention of TFA Indy teachers in comparison with other teachers.
Jul 20, 2023
Commentary
Early Years Education Reform: Could Life Chances for Children in England Be Significantly Improved?
To ensure equal access to high-quality early years provision in England, it is crucial to learn from successful systems worldwide and implement key recommendations. Prioritizing highly qualified staff, maintaining appropriate staff-to-child ratios, and removing barriers for disadvantaged families are essential steps toward achieving this goal.
Jul 18, 2023
Journal Article
The Unintended Consequences of Test-Based Remediation
In this study, we show that test-based remediation programs in middle school could have unintended tracking consequences, especially among Black students.
Jul 13, 2023
Journal Article
Diversity in Schools: Immigrants and the Educational Performance of U.S.-Born Students
We find that the presence of immigrant students has a positive effect on the academic achievement of U.S.-born students, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Jul 13, 2023
Report
Developing Enabling Environments for Women's Access to Education and Vocational Opportunities
The UN Women's Second Chance Education Programme (SCE) in India developed two efforts to support policy changes that improve women's access to education and vocational opportunities. SCE India engaged stakeholders, embedded technical consultants within partner agencies, supported policy enactment by facilitating productive conversations, and promoted structures to institutionalize proposed reforms.
Jun 29, 2023
Project
Evaluation of California's Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives
The RAND Corporation is evaluating California's statewide prevention and early intervention programs, which aim to reduce negative outcomes for people experiencing mental illness.
Jun 13, 2023
Commentary
Making the Most of JROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units in U.S. schools have drawn intensive scrutiny of late, and some districts might consider dropping JROTC. But they should take stock of what they'll lose. Students who choose to enroll in JROTC and stick with it do better in school than their peers.
May 26, 2023
Commentary
Finding Help Outside the Classroom: Approaches for Supporting College Students' Basic Needs
This Perspective builds on the research findings from a related RAND Corporation report on a North Carolina initiative to support college students' basic needs with strategies to improve the uptake and effectiveness of such initiatives nationally.
May 23, 2023
Commentary
How Florida's Expansion of 'Don't Say Gay' Law Will Hurt Students and Teachers Across the United States
Policies restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and representation of LGBTQ+ individuals are likely to make schools less welcoming to America's estimated two million LGBTQ+ youth. Policymakers should develop policies that cultivate learning and work environments where all students and educators feel safe and valued.
May 13, 2023
Blog
Truth Decay and National Security, Gun Violence, Blockading Crimea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Truth Decay and national security, America's gun violence problem, how Ukraine could blockade Crimea, and more.
Apr 14, 2023

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Jason Lee

Policy Researcher

Jason Lee is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation who has 15 years of experience working in education, including time spent as a program evaluator for the state of Tennessee, as well as a researcher for both the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association and the American…
Dwayne M. Butler

Senior Management Scientist

Dwayne Butler is a senior management scientist at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His areas of substantive knowledge or experience include: leadership; human capital management; organizational theory; educational theory, with particular focus on adult…

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