When a psychologist announces a new research finding, it is often based on a rejected null hypothesis. However, if that hypothesis is true, the claim is a false alarm. Many students mistakenly believe that the probability of committing a false alarm equals alpha, the criterion for statistical significance, which is typically set at 5%. Instructors…

Increasingly, student work is being conducted on computers and online, producing vast amounts of learning-related data. The educational analytics fields have produced many insights about learning based solely on tutoring systems' automatically logged data, or "log data." But log data leave out important contextual information about the…

This story begins with the assumption that I, the White female researcher, would elicit 'better' data from White participants. I told my Black female professor, 'I'm gonna use this White face!' This became a metaphor to describe my entry into the site and the various interactions that took place there. I conclude that the way that my racial…

This publication presents information on VET in Schools, the vocational education and training (VET) undertaken by school students as part of their senior secondary certificate of education (SSCE). The VET in Schools arrangement offers two main options: students can undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships; or they can enrol in…

When Dr. Tonya Williams set out to improve the assessment program for the Georgia Leadership Preparatory Academy, she knew she had to develop a strategy that respected her teachers' time. "Students need and want to grow," she explains, "and that happens through improved teacher pedagogy. But to make that a reality, you have to give…

The "CORE Districts" (referred to hereafter as "CORE") is a nonprofit organization created in 2010 to foster collaboration between eight of California's largest districts. In 2018-19, "CORE" provided a range of supports to participating districts, including programs to support multiple levels of district and school…

Simplified categorizations have often led to college students being labeled as full-time or part-time students. However, at many universities student enrollment patterns can be much more complicated, as it is not uncommon for students to alternate between full-time and part-time enrollment each semester based on finances, scheduling, or family…

California does not have a statewide data system that tracks student progress through K-12 and higher education and into the workforce. As a result, educators and policymakers cannot answer critical questions about student progress, which limits their ability to make evidence-based changes to support better and more equitable opportunities for…

This post is one in a series highlighting MDRC's methodological work. Contributors discuss the refinement and practical use of research methods being employed across MDRC. Part I of this two-part post discussed MDRC's work with practitioners from the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Department of Early Childhood to construct valid and reliable measures…

If you are like most educators, you agree with the idea of providing intensive intervention for students with the most intractable academic and behavior problems. The question you may be asking is, how do I find the time? Intensive intervention requires time for planning and delivering individualized instruction, as well as time for collecting and…

The National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools (the Center) is deeply committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to charter schools and that charter schools are designed and operated to enable success for all students. To accomplish this goal, the Center conducts analyses and releases a comprehensive…

County offices of education (COEs) are expected to provide ongoing support to districts and other local education agencies to drive continuous improvement within California's education system. Fulfilling this role has required COEs to carry out their historical role as compliance monitors while simultaneously developing the necessary mindsets,…

This issue of "DataPoints" shows student military service by institution type. About 6 percent of all undergraduate students indicate that they are currently serving in the military, in the reserves or National Guard, or are a veteran of military service, according to data in the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study of 2015-16.

Decades of research underscore how important teachers are in students' lives. They are, in fact, one of the most important factors contributing to student success in the classroom. Teachers, particularly highly qualified and effective teachers, are a key ingredient in achieving student success. However, as with many aspects of education, years of…

Multilingual learners (MLL) are a large and growing group of disadvantaged students in the United States public education system who come from refugee and immigrant backgrounds and require linguistic instruction, in addition to content instruction. MLLs are entitled to language instruction, and school districts receive additional funding for these…