Free Pre-K: How Cities are Growing and Funding High Quality Programs

From new property taxes to a so-called “soda tax,” U.S. cities have found creative ways to fund and grow free, high quality preschool programs. Now families – and researchers – are reporting on the personal and academic benefits of those programs for local children.

The Unintended Consequences of Performance-Based Funding

Seton Hall University’s Robert Kelchen led a national study of colleges and universities to understand the impact of performance-based funding, and whether targeted bonuses can boost enrollment rates for minorities and low-income students.

Teacher Demoralization and “Deprofessionalization” in the NCLB Era

From high-stakes testing to heightened federal accountability, the No Child Left Behind Act brought myriad changes to American classrooms. According to two new studies by the University of Dayton’s Meredith Wronowski, it also had significant unintended impacts on teacher perceptions – including increased feelings of stress and demoralization – and workplace turnover. 

Teacher Demoralization and ‘De-Professionalization’ in the NCLB Era

From high-stakes testing to heightened federal accountability, the No Child Left Behind Act brought myriad changes to American classrooms. According to two new studies by the University of Dayton’s Meredith Wronowski, it also had significant unintended impacts on teacher perceptions – including increased feelings of stress and demoralization – and workplace turnover. nnWronowski joins CPRE Knowledge Hub managing editor Keith Heumiller to discuss her findings, and offers some key takeaways for policymakers, teachers, and school leaders hoping to chart a different course in the Every Student Succeeds Act era.

Girls, Boys, and High Achievers: The Impact of Student Composition

Can exposure to high-achieving boys or girls have long-term impacts on a student’s behavior, decision making, and academic success? A new study of more than 10,000 students examines the influence of gender composition in middle and high school classrooms.

The Promise and Pitfalls of Online Instruction in High School

Each year millions of American K-12 students take classes online, augmenting traditional coursework or attempting to recover lost credits on the road to graduation. Despite its growing presence in schools, however, digital instruction can often have mixed results.