Education Policy

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Education policy includes laws as well as processes and policies that educational organizations, local districts, states, and nations put in place and follow to achieve academic goals. RAND analyses have informed education policy in the United States, United Kingdom, Qatar, and many other countries.

  • A teacher using a tablet computer in an elementary school lesson, photo by Getty Images

    Q&A

    Amplifying Teachers' Voices: Q&A with Ashley Woo

    Ashley Woo, an assistant policy researcher at RAND and a Ph.D. candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, aims to bring teachers' perspectives into policymaking. In this interview, she discusses her research on teachers' responses to state restrictions on how they can address topics related to race and gender in the classroom.

    Mar 16, 2023

  • A student giving a presentation to her class points at a globe next to her teacher, photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

    Report

    Support for Elementary Social Studies Education Varies Widely Across States

    Over the past few decades, U.S. schools have increasingly sidelined students' civic development as one of their priorities. The infrastructure to support grades K–5 social studies instruction—academic standards, accountability requirements, assessment programs—is often missing or inadequate.

    Mar 7, 2023

Explore Education Policy

  • News Release

    News Release

    It Worked: REF 2014 Was Successful in Assessing Research Impacts

    RAND Europe's evaluations of the impact element of the UK's Research Excellence Framework 2014 show that researchers can describe the wider societal benefits of their research, and that these impacts can be assessed and compared.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Preparing impact submissions for REF 2014: An evaluation

    Research summary describing our evaluation of the preparation process for the new impact element of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 by UK universities, to assess the process and identify improvements.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Report

    Report

    Preparing impact submissions for REF 2014: An evaluation: Approach and Evidence

    As part of a review of the preparation process for the impact element of the REF 2014 within UK higher education institutions to assess the process and identify future improvements, this report provides an in-depth analysis of the gathered data.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Report

    Report

    Preparing impact submissions for REF 2014: An evaluation: Findings and observations

    As part of a review of the preparation process for the impact element of the REF 2014 within UK higher education institutions to assess the process and identify future improvements, this report summarises the approach and describes the key findings and observations.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Assessing impact submissions for REF 2014: An evaluation

    Research summary describing our evaluation of the assessment process for submissions to the impact element of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 by UK universities, to explore strengths, weaknesses and implications for future similar exercises.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Report

    Report

    Assessing impact submissions for REF2014: An evaluation

    A review of the assessment process for the impact element of the REF 2014 within UK higher education institutions to assess the process and identify future improvements.

    Mar 25, 2015

  • Group of young students studying in the classroom with a laptop

    Report

    Education, Technology and Connectedness: Global Societal Trends to 2030

    The spread of technology and its relationship to education will transform the education and power of citizens, forming a significant societal challenge for the European Union in the coming decades.

    Feb 12, 2015

  • Elementary school students at their lockers

    Commentary

    Reauthorizing ESEA: What We Know and Where We Should Go with School Improvement

    Federal policy should ensure that school improvement is a priority, that schools adopt proven reforms that fit the school context, and that schools and their districts are held accountable when federal resources are used for school improvement.

    Feb 11, 2015

  • Mathematics teacher pointing to the blackboard and talking to his class

    Commentary

    Reauthorizing ESEA: Four Recommendations to Improve Teaching Effectiveness

    Policies aimed at boosting teaching effectiveness are a key component of a strong ESEA reauthorization. Addressing discrepancies in teacher quality helps teachers improve, retains effective teachers, and makes the teaching profession an attractive option for those contemplating careers.

    Feb 3, 2015

  • Teacher helping a high school student on a computer

    Commentary

    Recommendations for ESEA Reauthorization That Support Innovation

    As lawmakers consider the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, it is critical that in meeting their objectives they do not create unnecessary obstacles to the productive innovations being explored at schools, such as personalized learning.

    Jan 27, 2015

  • Students taking a test in a classroom

    Commentary

    Reauthorizing ESEA: Four Recommendations to Make Testing Work

    Will Congress be able to reauthorize ESEA in 2015? Success will depend on legislators clearing several hurdles, such as decisions regarding teacher quality, school improvement, and charter schools. And at the center of the debate remains the issue of federal requirements for testing.

    Jan 21, 2015

  • Two high school or college students working together

    Commentary

    A Plan for Measuring Hard-to-Measure, 'Soft' Skills

    Research increasingly suggests that “soft” skills are important for college and career success, as well as for promoting civic engagement. So far, these skills are largely unmeasured in schools. But new research may pave the way for change.

    Dec 10, 2014

  • Dissertation

    Dissertation

    What Makes a Successful Principal? Incorporating School Principal Background in State and District Policy

    Explores aspects of a potential principal's education and professional experience that states and school districts should look for and cultivate in candidates for the position of school principal.

    Nov 13, 2014

  • High school students collaborating

    Report

    Measuring Hard-to-Measure Student Competencies

    Interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies such as communication and resilience are important predictors of success and civic engagement after high school. They're also difficult to measure. Practical, high-quality measures could help educators and policymakers improve outcomes for students.

    Nov 3, 2014

  • A student reads on a university lawn

    Commentary

    The Price for Student Satisfaction and Success in Higher Education

    Choosing the right university and the best course of study is one of the most important decisions young people and parents will make. Not everyone makes the right decision. Of the wide range of factors involved in choosing a university, how important are university tuition fees to young people and their parents?

    Aug 14, 2014

  • Jordanian youth use laptop computers

    Report

    Youth in Jordan: Transitions from Education to Employment

    Despite Jordan's strong economic growth during the last decade, youth unemployment remains high, as graduates don't possess the skills necessary for their desired professions. Numerous policy reforms could turn the tide.

    Jun 30, 2014

  • Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole speaking at the 2014 Pardee RAND Graduate School commencement

    Blog

    Sen. Elizabeth Dole Urges Graduates to Use Storytelling to Advance Policy

    Facts and objective analysis are important, but for policy analysts to make a difference in the real world they also have to be able to tell a story, former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said at the June 21 Pardee RAND Graduate School commencement.

    Jun 24, 2014

  • two preschool children using colored pencils

    Commentary

    Narrowing the Income Achievement Gap

    The achievement gap between children from the highest- and lowest-income families has substantially grown since 1960. The income achievement gap is now about twice the size of the black-white achievement gap.

    Jun 12, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Choice of University in England: It's Not Just About the Money

    Tuition fee levels are not the only factor that prospective students and their parents consider when choosing universities. They also compare employment prospects, living expenses, university location, and course quality.

    Jun 12, 2014

  • uncertain students

    Report

    Understanding the Impact of Differential University Fees in England

    Despite tuition of up to £9000 per year for higher education institutions in England, applications continue to rise. Aside from tuition fees, employment prospects, living expenses, university location, and course quality are important influences on prospective students' university choices.

    Jun 12, 2014

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