Policy Topics

Curriculum & instruction

Content type
Showing 31 - 49 of 49 results
EPI Working papers

The Impact of No Child Left Behind on Student Achievement

November 1, 2009
|
Brian Jacob, Thomas Dee
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act compelled states to design school-accountability systems based on annual student assessments. The effect of this Federal legislation on the distribution of student achievement is a highly controversial but...
Two students conversing
EPI Working papers

The Persistence of Teacher-Induced Learning Gains

June 1, 2008
|
Brian Jacob, Lars Lefgren, David Sims
Educational interventions are often narrowly targeted and temporary, and evaluations often focus on the short-run impacts of the intervention. Insofar as the positive effects of educational interventions fadeout over time, however, such assessments...
Student paying attention to teacher in class
EPI Working papers

The Effect of Grade Retention on High School Completion

October 1, 2007
|
Brian Jacob, Lars Lefgren
Low-achieving students in many school districts are retained in a grade in order to allow them to gain the academic or social skills that teachers believe are necessary to succeed academically. This practice is highly controversial, with many...
Student walking down a hallway at school
Support for K-12

Evaluation of Michigan's Read by Grade Three Law

September 2019
|
Brian Jacob, Christina Weiland, Katharine Strunk, Tara Kilbride, Nicole Wagner Lam, Jasmina Camo-Biogradlija, Kyle Kwaiser, Thomas Staines
Literacy knowledge and skills developed in the early elementary grades predict long-term literacy achievement, on-time graduation, and later-life outcomes. In recognizing the critical importance of establishing early literacy skills, there has been substantial instructional and policy attention given to improving rates of reading proficiency in the elementary grades. In 2016, based on the recommendation of the Michigan Third Grade Reading Workgroup, the Michigan legislature passed the Read by Grade Three Law (RBG3), which requires schools to identify learners who are struggling with reading...
Young child completing a written assignment
Postsecondary preparation & success

College Acceleration Programs in Michigan

September 2020
|
Kevin Stange, Sabrina Solanki, Jonathan Hartman, Nicole Wagner Lam, William Metz, Yincheng Ye
In 2020, the Michigan Legislature asked that the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) produce a report analyzing trends in college acceleration program participation in Michigan and the extent to which postsecondary access and outcomes is improved as a result of these programs. To meet these aims, MDE has partnered with EPI to study enrollment, performance, and postsecondary outcomes for students who enrolled in international baccalaureate (IB), advanced placement (AP), dual or concurrent enrollment (DE), early or middle college high schools (EMC), and career and technical education (CTE)...
Student writing in a journal
Support for K-12

Evaluation of Michigan's Comprehensive State Literacy Development Grant

September 2020
|
Brian Jacob, Nicole Wagner Lam, Jasmina Camo-Biogradlija
The Michigan Department of Education is using the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant to support literacy development in five districts in the state. Over the course of the five-year, $16 million grant, districts and statewide partners will work to advance literacy skills for children from birth through grade 12. The five districts awarded funding are: Benton Harbor Area Schools  Detroit Public Schools Community District  Flint Community Schools  Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System  Pontiac School District The goal of the grant funding is to...
Michigan Comprehensive State Literacy Grant Funding Locations
Early learning

Evaluation of Michigan's Transitional Kindergarten Program

January 2021
|
Christina Weiland, Brian Jacob, Anna Shapiro, Tareena Musaddiq, Jasmina Camo-Biogradlija, Jordy Berne
In partnership with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), the research team is analyzing administrative education records to describe transitional kindergarten programming in Michigan (i.e. Young Fives) and to examine its impacts on children’s kindergarten readiness and K-3 outcomes. This study also has several connections to the COVID-19 crisis. Program data will be used to describe the progress of cohorts of children more versus less directly affected by COVID-19. Additionally, surveys of families, teachers, and districts on their COVID-19-related experiences and challenges will be...
Young child running down a school hallway

Bringing the Actual Science of Reading to Policy and Practice

Nov 19, 2020 1:29:12

Come learn from four stakeholders renowned for their experience and expertise in improving children's literacy; two professors of education, an education reporter, and the head of one of Michigan's school administrator associations.

Susan Dynarski: State of Education in Michigan

Apr 25, 2013 0:31:22

Susan Dynarski discusses the state of education in Michigan and how college-going rates throughout Michigan are affected by race, income, and quality of high school education.

Robert Pianta: Improving impacts of classrooms

Nov 19, 2008 1:17:02

Robert Pianta discusses how to improve school and classroom experiences through teachers' professional development in his talk titled "Improving Impacts of Classrooms: Professional Development and Classroom Observation." November, 2008.