Extensive theoretical literature and qualitative evidence nominate learning communities as a promising strategy to improve persistence and success among at-risk populations, such as students who are academically underprepared for college-level coursework. Yet rigorous quantitative evidence on the impacts of these programs is limited. This paper…

The author responds to Pinnell et al's (1996) call for caution in using cost-benefit analysis in measuring educational reform success. It is argued that reform already is being sold to state legislators and educators in cost-benefit terms and that research has been inappropriately used in the selling process. (GR)

Responds to Hiebert's 1994 article in Educational Researcher in which she criticized Reading Recovery (RR) advocates for failing to base RR's success on an adequate cost-benefit analysis. The authors suggest reliance on the informal judgements of local administrators rather than using administratively difficult, large-scale, cost-benefit analyses…