reading proficiency

Publication

Jacob and Weiland raise concerns about potential bias in traditional retention studies

Jan 30, 2026

Across the U.S., policies that require children to repeat a grade in elementary school—known as retention policies—have become a popular approach to improve reading proficiency. As of 2025, 18 states have enacted or are set to implement third-grade r...

Jacob and Weiland raise concerns about potential bias in traditional retention studies

News

What is the secret to better reading outcomes?

May 26, 2025 Education Week

As states have struggled for decades to improve 3rd grade literacy on a large scale, many have enacted policies to hold struggling readers back a year. Education Week recently highlighted Christina Weiland and Brian Jacob's evaluation of Michigan’s “...

What is the secret to better reading outcomes?

News

Jacob speaks with Michigan Radio, poor marks for Michigan’s reading, math proficiency

Feb 22, 2017

“Are Michigan’s schools improving? According to a new analysis of national testing data, the answer is a clear 'no,'" says Michigan Radio’s “Stateside” in today’s segment, “On national reading and math test, Michigan only state where students have no...

In Brookings, Jacob argues for greater support systems for community college students

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 centrall...