Weighing the Research: What Works, What Doesn't
An Opinion Series
Although the cries for “evidence” are frequent in the education space, evidence can prove elusive to practitioners: Where is it? How sound is it? What does it tell us about real-life situations? This ongoing series aims to put the pieces of research together so they can be used by those charged with choosing which policies and practices to implement.
The conveners of this project—Susanna Loeb, the director of Brown University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and Harvard education professor Heather Hill—have received grant support from the Annenberg Institute for this series.
They’ll be looking for you to suggest other topics using #EdResearchToPractice on Twitter or submitting a comment to the essays in this series.
School & District Management
Opinion
Why, Really, Are So Many Black Kids Suspended?
The answer lies much more with educators than with students, writes researcher Richard O. Welsh.
School & District Management
Opinion
One Simple Way for Principals to Boost Students’ Unfinished Learning
Instruction improves when teachers remain in their current grades, write researchers Heather C. Hill and Susanna Loeb.
School & District Management
Opinion
Why Evidence-Backed Programs Might Fall Short in Your School (And What To Do About It)
How close a program's implementation matches its plan is important, though perhaps not quite as important as you think, writes researcher Heather C. Hill.
Science
Opinion
Effective Science Learning Means Observing and Explaining. There's a Curriculum for That
Researchers say grappling with problems beats out traditional approaches.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Learning Recovery: The Research on Tutoring, Extended School Year, and Other Strategies
Evidence points most strongly to the value of high-dose tutoring, but other approaches have merit too, writes researcher Heather C. Hill.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Remote Learning Cuts Into Attendance. Here Are Remedies
Data suggest low-income communities are hit much harder than affluent ones, writes researcher Heather C. Hill.
Teaching
Opinion
Teachers, Live Screen Time Is Precious. Use It Well
Research suggests a way to restructure remote learning to give students what they've been missing.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Here's How to Protect Students' Mental Health
Teacher-student relationships matter a lot. Research suggests a number of ways to strengthen them, writes Heather C. Hill.
Budget & Finance
Opinion
Budget-Cut Decisions Loom. Here Are First Steps
Leaders will be weighing what to cut. Research suggests schools in poor neighborhoods, and effective teachers should get protection, writes a team of school finance experts.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Police Violence and COVID-19 Have Been Traumatizing. Here Are Tools That Can Help Schools
Research can guide educators looking for the best ways of identifying and treating traumatized teachers and students, writes Heather C. Hill.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
How to Contend with Pandemic Learning Loss
Some methods for catch-up are in place, but teachers will need to prepare for what students missed or forgot, write Heather C. Hill and Susanna Loeb.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
How to Make the Coming Teacher Layoffs Hurt Schools and Students Less
If budget cuts force pink slips, many districts leaders may be able to protect their most effective teachers, especially in schools where turnover is high.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Stumped by How to Best Serve Students With At-Home Learning? Follow the Evidence
Schools need to foster learning at home right now, but parents can't always help. Economist Philip Oreopoulos explains what works best.
Families & the Community
Opinion
Parents as Emergency Teachers? The Research Offers Cautions and Opportunities for Schools
Parents can be effective teachers, but they need the right kind of support from schools.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
How Effective Is Online Learning? What the Research Does and Doesn't Tell Us
Research suggests on average students don't learn as much online, particularly if they are already struggling, writes Susanna Loeb.
School & District Management
Opinion
Culturally Responsive Teaching Is Promising. But There's a Pressing Need for More Research
The evidence that culturally responsive teaching can fix the nation's schools for children of color is promising, but woefully incomplete, writes Heather C. Hill.
Professional Development
Opinion
Teacher PD Gets a Bad Rap. But Two Approaches Do Work
Many researchers have given up on teacher professional development as a way to raise student test scores, but two approaches have been yielding good results, writes Heather C. Hill.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Does Studying Student Data Really Raise Test Scores?
Many teachers believe that analyzing student testing data can boost performance, but research suggests otherwise, writes Heather C. Hill.
School & District Management
Opinion
Introducing: A New Series on the Practical Takeaways From Research
In a new series, Heather C. Hill and Susanna Loeb will synthesize the research to see what works and what doesn't in education.
