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Teachers and Teaching

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The challenge of transforming underperforming schools and improving student achievement drives RAND's commitment to education. RAND research on teachers and teaching explores a wide range of topics, including instructional practices, technology in the classroom, class size, teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher quality and effectiveness.

Essay
A Four-Day School Week? Here Are the Costs and Benefits
Hundreds of small school districts across America have cut one day a week from their calendars. A shorter school week helps them compete for teachers and reduce costs. Teachers and parents love it. But is it really in the best interests of students?
Aug 31, 2023
Report
All Work and No Pay: Teachers' Perceptions of Their Pay and Hours Worked
Since the pandemic, there have been some positive improvements in teacher well-being. However, teachers in some states are still leaving their jobs at rates higher than before COVID-19 hit. How might salary and work hours affect their decisions to leave?
Sep 12, 2023

Explore Teachers and Teaching

Journal Article
Day by Day: Investigating Variation in Elementary Mathematics Instruction That Supports the Common Core
This article investigates the extent to which students were being engaged in complex practices exemplified by Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and the Standards for Mathematical Practice on a daily basis, according to teachers' reports.
May 15, 2020
Report
Writing Instruction in U.S. Classrooms: Diverging Perspectives for Teachers Across Content Areas
This American Educator Panels Data Note provides insights into secondary teachers' perceptions of their preparedness to teach and assess writing skills and their levels of support in the classroom.
May 14, 2020
Commentary
Now That Digital Materials Are Front and Center, How Should They Be Used?
Schools and teachers can support student learning during the COVID-19 crisis by considering how to keep curricula front and center alongside a set of targeted digital materials that connect with curricula and can keep students learning, engaged, and connected to their school support systems.
May 4, 2020
Commentary
Digital Learning Needs to Benefit All Children When Schools Close
Three factors are essential for any digital learning method. First, it must be inclusive. Second, it should support the learning experience, not replace it. And third, evidence of what works should inform digital learning interventions.
May 4, 2020
Commentary
Coronavirus Will Necessitate Changes in Schools When They Reopen
Schools will likely need to modify their practices so that their teachers, staff, and students maintain social distancing standards whenever they reopen. If a federal agency would create guidance, then educators could focus on teaching students.
Apr 16, 2020
Report
What Digital Materials Do Teachers Use?
Digital materials for lesson planning and instruction are becoming an increasingly important resource for teachers. A survey of English language arts, mathematics, and science teachers across the United States provides insights on which materials they use and what they consider barriers to use.
Apr 16, 2020
Report
Educators Turn to Colleagues for Help with Struggling Students
When students have academic or behavioral challenges, educators often consult with another teacher, support staff, principal, or district leader to weigh strategies. When selecting interventions, they consider relevance to local context, rigor of evidence, and feasibility.
Apr 15, 2020
Report
Teachers Find Value in National Educator Survey Data
More than 80 percent of teachers reported that their peers' responses to surveys about topics like social and emotional learning and curriculum would be useful. Those in higher-poverty schools were more likely to report that data on many topics would be useful for improving their instruction.
Apr 15, 2020
Report
Teachers Need Access to High-Quality Materials
When asked about their instructional materials, U.S. mathematics teachers were more likely to report regular use of at least one high-quality material compared to English-language arts teachers, although high school teachers did so less than their elementary or middle school counterparts. More open-access online materials could help.
Apr 15, 2020
Report
Teachers' Access to and Use of Student Data Varies
Using student data to inform instruction is considered sound educational practice. Many teachers have access to grades, attendance records, and standardized test scores. But they don't all have the skills needed to interpret and use the data. Providing educators with more support could increase their use of student data.
Apr 10, 2020
Report
Do Teachers Have What They Need to Support Students with Unique Learning Profiles?
Many students face unique educational circumstances, such as learning disabilities, housing instability, and exposure to poverty. Do teachers have what they need to help these students succeed?
Apr 10, 2020
Report
Secondary Educators Consider Discipline Reform a Priority
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.
Apr 9, 2020
Report
School Leadership: Teachers and Principals May Have Different Views
Principals almost universally rate themselves as effective in leadership practices such as communicating a clear vision for the school and setting high standards for teaching. Some teachers rate principals lower, and this mismatch in perception could have negative consequences.
Apr 9, 2020
Report
Principals Are More Optimistic Than Teachers About School Improvement Plans
School improvement plans have been a central feature of American school reform for over two decades. Most educators are familiar with these plans, but principals are more likely than teachers to believe that they change teaching practices and improve schools in a five-year period.
Apr 8, 2020
Report
Are Educators Setting Goals for Social-Emotional Learning?
Evidence shows that social and emotional skills predict long-term life outcomes of students. Interventions that improve social and emotional learning (SEL) can also boost academic achievement. Many teachers and principals are setting goals for SEL growth in their schools, but 40 percent of them are not.
Apr 7, 2020
Report
How Much Influence Do Teachers Have? It Depends on Whom You Ask
Are teachers involved in making important decisions in their schools? A nationally representative survey shows that principals are more likely than teachers to say yes. Such gaps between teachers and school leaders signal a disconnect that may lead to professional stagnation and frustration.
Apr 7, 2020
Report
How Educators View the Rapid Life Cycle of School Reforms
Researchers and educators have noted the emergence of a school reform
Apr 7, 2020
Commentary
Navigating College and Career Readiness in a Time of Uncertainty
How we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic today will likely have longer-term effects. This means that we need to think about people who are actively preparing for that future: high school students looking to enter college and careers.
Mar 26, 2020
Report
Supporting Students' College and Career Pathways: Teacher and Principal Perspectives
Schools play a critical role in giving students access to college and career information and resources. What do U.S. high school educators think about the quality and availability of the resources that their schools provide?
Mar 26, 2020
Report
How Teachers Use Intervention Programs
Academic intervention programs support students who are performing below grade level. When asked about their use of these programs, U.S. teachers were more likely to report using them in English language arts than in mathematics. Teachers also reported using a wide variety of interventions.
Mar 19, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Teachers and Teaching

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Elena Rosa Speciani

Research Leader

Elena Brown is a research leader at RAND Europe in the field of early years and education. She oversees numerous research projects spanning early childhood education, school-aged children, and parenting interventions. Brown is a proficient methodologist with extensive experience in designing…
Anirudh Agarwal

Analyst

Anirudh Agarwal is an analyst at RAND Europe. Working on the Home Affairs and Social Policy team, his interests are primarily in improving educational quality in middle- and low-income contexts. Agarwal is a mixed methods researcher, with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies…

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