What the Research Says

From the pages of Education Week: a roundup of recent education studies
Conceptual image of cut out arrows up and down with money peaking through and a blue background of student hand working with pen and notebook.
Liz Yap/Education Week with iStock/Getty
Student Achievement What the Research Says What the Historic Infusion of Federal Pandemic Aid Did for Schools
Two new analyses of student-achievement data finds some benefits—but also deep inequities—for districts receiving federal recovery money.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 26, 2024
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6 min read
Julian Gresham, 12, left, works in a group to program a Bee-Bot while in their fifth grade summer school class Monday, June 14, 2021, at Goliad Elementary School. Bee-bots and are new to Ector County Independent School District and help to teach students basic programming skills like sequencing, estimation and problem-solving.
Julian Gresham, 12, left, works on a robotics programming activity in a 5th-grade summer school class June 14, 2021, at Goliad Elementary School in Ector County, Texas. Active summer programs may improve students' attendance during the school year.
Jacob Ford/Odessa American via AP
School & District Management What the Research Says 5 Things Schools Can Do This Summer to Improve Student Attendance Next Year
Schools can get a jump on student attendance during the school year by using data, leveraging summer programs, and connecting with families.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 21, 2024
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6 min read
Photo of high school girls working on building project in class.
Globally, 15-year-old girls outpaced their male peers in a new international test of creative thinking.
E+
International What the Research Says What Schools Can Learn From a Global Assessment on Creative Thinking
Not all creativity is the same for student achievement, the latest Program for International Student Assessment data show.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 18, 2024
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4 min read
Notes from students expressing support and sharing coping strategies paper a wall, as members of the Miami Arts Studio mental health club raise awareness on World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, 2023, at Miami Arts Studio, a public 6th-12th grade magnet school, in Miami.
Notes from students express support and share coping strategies at Miami Arts Studio, a public magnet school for grades 6-12, on Oct. 10, 2023. Studies find teachers need training to navigate their own stress while managing classes with high-need students.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Student Well-Being What the Research Says How Teacher Stress Management Is Crucial for Handling Student Mental Health
A Chicago program helps teachers learn how to manage their own stress in classes with more easily triggered students.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 14, 2024
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4 min read
Teacher Monica Villegas, an exchange teacher from Mexico, instructs students at the Twin Falls School District's migrant summer school at Oregon Trail Elementary School in Twin Falls, Idaho, on June 1, 2016. A migrant summer school helps fill education gaps while keeping children out of farm fields.
Teacher Monica Villegas, an exchange teacher from Mexico, instructs students at the Twin Falls School District's migrant summer school at Oregon Trail Elementary School in Twin Falls, Idaho, on June 1, 2016. A migrant summer school helps fill education gaps while keeping children out of farm fields.
Stephen Reiss/The Times-News via AP
Student Achievement What the Research Says How to Get Summer School Right (Hint: It’s Not Just About Academics)
A new study finds a blend of remedial and enrichment activities may improve summer programs' attendance and their effectiveness.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 11, 2024
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6 min read
Image of high school students working together in a school setting.
E+/Getty
Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says 4 Keys to Building a Pipeline From High School to the Teaching Profession
A statewide career-tech program in Maryland shows promise to expand and diversify the pool of new educators. Here's how.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 6, 2024
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5 min read
Young girl working on an electrical panel in a classroom setting.
iStock/Getty
College & Workforce Readiness What the Research Says The State of Career and Technical Education, in Charts
New federal data shows more than 8 in 10 high school graduates completed at least one course in a career-education field in 2019.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 3, 2024
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2 min read
Teachers and administrator talking outside school building.
E+ / Getty
Teaching What the Research Says Team Teaching: A Boost to Teacher Retention
A study of Mesa, Ariz., teachers finds the collaborative approach boosts career satisfaction and effectiveness.
Sarah D. Sparks, May 30, 2024
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4 min read
Worried teenage girl tries to think of the answer to a question during a hard test. She has her hand on her face wth a look of uncertainty.
E+/Getty Images
Student Well-Being What the Research Says The Power of Student-Teacher Relationships: A Downloadable Guide
Understanding student cues and responding appropriately can help teachers manage difficult student behavior.
Sarah D. Sparks & Vanessa Solis, May 21, 2024
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1 min read
Photo of a Black male teacher giving a math less to Junior-high Black students.
Martine Severin/E+
Mathematics What the Research Says 4 Questions to Boost Algebra Gains for Middle Schoolers
More than 1 in 3 public school students now takes Algebra 1 in middle school. Here's how to make sure they succeed in this gatekeeper class.
Sarah D. Sparks, May 17, 2024
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5 min read
Illustration of test items on a flat surface, including test booklet, test sheets, pencils, eraser and pencil sharpener.
DigitalVision Vectors + iStock/Getty + Education Week
Student Achievement What the Research Says Want to Boost Students’ Focus During Tests? Check the Time of Day
New study finds distractions spikes when students take reading and math assessments after lunch
Sarah D. Sparks, May 13, 2024
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3 min read
First-graders listen to teacher Dwane Davis at Milwaukee Math and Science Academy, a charter school in Milwaukee on Oct. 20, 2017. Charter schools are among the nation's most segregated, an Associated Press analysis finds — an outcome at odds, critics say, with their goal of offering a better alternative to failing traditional public schools.
First-graders listen to teacher Dwane Davis at Milwaukee Math and Science Academy, a charter school in Milwaukee on Oct. 20, 2017. Charter schools are among the nation's most segregated, an Associated Press analysis finds—an outcome at odds, critics say, with their goal of offering a better alternative to failing traditional public schools.
Carrie Antlfinger/AP
School & District Management What the Research Says A New Way for Educators to Think About School Segregation
Seventy years after the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board, Stanford researchers find racial, economic isolation spiking in schools.
Sarah D. Sparks, May 6, 2024
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4 min read
Scarce classroom of students taking exams at their desks with empty desks in the foreground.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
School & District Management What the Research Says What Districts With the Worst Attendance Have in Common
Districts often lack a systemic approach to coping with the spike in chronic attendance problems, a Michigan study suggests.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 25, 2024
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4 min read
A group photo picturing 12 of the Memphis 13.
A group photo of 12 of the Memphis 13 students.
Courtesy of the Memphis 13 Foundation
Social Studies What the Research Says Oral History Offers a Model for How Schools Can Introduce Students to Complex Topics
Community history projects like a curriculum in Memphis, Tenn. can help students grapple with issues like school segregation, experts say.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 22, 2024
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4 min read
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