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Does "naming and shaming" of colleges with large tuition increases make a difference?

A study published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis found that institutions included in the College Affordability and Transparency Center lists did not change their pricing policies or students' enrollment decisions. The findings suggest that relying on students to seek out affordability information is unlikely to influence...

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateJul 16, 2020

Low-income children and COVID-19

Hardships faced by low-income children during the COVID-19 pandemic led to calls for improved education systems. The article suggests reforms to better support vulnerable populations in the future.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMay 13, 2020

Public policies push schools to prioritize creating better test-takers over better people

Public schools in the US have shifted their focus to academic excellence, prioritizing standardized test scores over personal growth, job skills, and student self-awareness. The UB-led study found a significant rise in the ranking of academic excellence among public school principals, while personal growth and job skills declined.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalEducational Administration Quarterly·DateApr 8, 2020

School district secessions in the South have deepened racial segregation between school systems

A recent study by Kendra Taylor and her colleagues found that school district secessions in the South have increased racial segregation between school systems. The trend has led to more students being sorted into separate districts based on race, potentially harming educational opportunities for diverse student populations.

Disability categories in education were redefined to exclude minorities, study shows

A University of Kansas study found that dominant groups in the education system manipulate disability categories to exclude racial minorities and keep them out of most desirable special education programs. The researchers documented how upper-class white students were moved into what was once considered the least desirable category, an...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateAug 26, 2019

Study shows power of refocusing student stress in middle school transition

A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers finds that proactively addressing students' anxieties with reassuring classroom activities can lead to higher grades, better attendance, and fewer behavioral problems. The intervention boosts students' sense of belonging and reduces fears about fitting in.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 29, 2019

Tobacco control policies linked to reduced smoking

A new study found that increased tobacco taxes and smoke-free policies in European countries were significantly related to a reduction in smoking among older adults. The association was particularly strong among those between 50 and 65 years old and those with lower levels of education.

SourceWiley·JournalAddiction·DateMar 14, 2019

US image abroad: It's the message not the messenger

A Dartmouth study finds that US policy messages have a greater impact on foreign public opinion than the person delivering the message. The research, published in Political Behavior, reveals that Japanese public opinion of the US depends largely on whether a policy message is cooperative or uncooperative.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPolitical Behavior·DateNov 30, 2018

Impacts of school choice on segregation

Penn State researchers found that black and Latino students tend to move into charter schools with higher racial isolation, while white students move to more diverse schools. This study highlights the need for educational equity and raises questions about school-choice policy's effects on fostering racially diverse schools.

SourcePenn State·JournalEducation Policy Analysis Archives·DateMar 28, 2017

Universities' messages about socioeconomic diversity can affect academic confidence

A Northwestern University study finds that universities' messages about socioeconomic diversity can affect academic confidence and sense of self-worth in students from low-income backgrounds. Students perceived as 'warm' versus 'chilly' towards socioeconomic diversity reported different levels of academic confidence and expectations.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateDec 14, 2015

A 'Council of Psychological Science Advisors' tackles pressing policy issues

A special section in Perspectives on Psychological Science provides policy memos to the President from a 'Council of Psychological Science Advisors', offering recommendations on obesity, consumer debt, terrorism, and climate change. The section features articles translating scientific findings into federal policy improvements.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateNov 18, 2015