Many incoming college students are referred to remedial programs in math or English based on scores they earn on standardized placement tests. Yet research shows that some students assigned to remediation based on test scores would likely succeed in a college-level course in the same subject area without first taking a remedial course if given…

Research across the decades has confirmed that effective school leadership is associated with better outcomes for students and schools. A high-quality school leader affects dozens of teachers and hundreds or thousands of students. It is a pivotal role. From 2011 to 2016, The Wallace Foundation, through its Principal Pipeline Initiative (PPI),…

The social sector's hottest "impact investing" product--the social impact bond (SIB)--has generated a range of reactions, from excitement to angst. An SIB uses private funds to pay for a social, educational, or health program, and the government repays investors (plus a return) only if the program achieves prespecified results. The…

The City University of New York's (CUNY's) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) combines many of the ideas from a range of programs into a comprehensive model that requires students to attend school full-time, and provides supports and incentives for three years. ASAP's financial aid reforms, enhanced student services, and scheduling…

Moving from a traditional desktop computing environment to a virtualized solution is a daunting task. In this article, the author presents case histories of three districts that have made the conversion to virtual computing to learn about their experiences: What prompted them to make the move, and what were their objectives? Which obstacles prove…

In 2006, the National Center for Postsecondary Research, of which is MDRC is a partner, launched a demonstration of one-semester learning community programs at six colleges; five of these programs focused on developmental education. This is the final report from the project and includes findings from analyses that pool data across these five…

New York state established several types of grants to improve local educational practice, and three are examined in this report: Developer grants, Demonstrator grants, and Replicator grants. Policy evaluation performed at the level of a grants administration agency requires many types of data collection and analysis. This study compares the…

This publication provides local governments in New York with guidelines and suggestions for three major records management undertakings: (1) writing an ordinance, resolution, or local law to establish a records management program; (2) defining the role of the Records Management Officer in developing, organizing, and directing a records management…

Assesses effects of five large city school districts' fiscal dependence on educational spending in New York State. Results suggest that spending levels may be systematically lower in fiscally dependent districts. Recommends re-aligning resource allocation and school governance responsibilities and using matching grants to reduce spending…

This plan describes the challenges facing higher education in New York State and the goals devised by the Board of Regents to address these challenges. The Regents publish such a plan covering two-year and four-year public, private and proprietary institutions every eight years. The major challenges facing higher education in New York are: (1) the…

States have had to budget increasing amounts for mandated pupil-transportation services as their state transportation aid has been slashed dramatically. Among school districts, cooperation and coordination through shared services (consortia) have resulted in safer, more reliable, and more efficient transportation. Implementation advice is…

This report summarizes results of initiatives established to achieve goals of the New York State Board of Regents to reform the state's preschool special education program. These goals, consistent with the provisions of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, view special education as a service to support…