This guide for district and school leaders shows how to recognize opportunities to embed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) into planned policies or programs. Opportunistic RCTs can generate strong evidence for informing education decisions--with minimal added cost and disruption. The guide also outlines the key steps to conduct RCTs and responds…

The purpose of this paper is to offer an analytic perspective to policy makers and educational practitioners regarding how to use longitudinal achievement data to evaluate schools. The authors further discuss the potential practical applications of their models for superintendents, researchers, and policy makers. The premise of the study is that…

This study compares the experiences and perceptions of new and experienced teachers in 235 schools in six western states (Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming) that have adopted the Reading First school reform initiative. Using previously collected data from surveys and interviews, the study considers four areas of the reform…

Institutional comparison groups can be selected in several ways, depending on the comparison issue. The method chosen involves both technical and political considerations. (Author/MSE)

This working paper, part of an ongoing national study, presents preliminary analysis of public service professionalism among state public administrators in many states on the basis of data already produced by a continuing survey research project. Information about the data source and sample profiles are provided. Additionally, the research…

This report provides a summarization of a study designed to determine if there is a significant relationship between formal religious education and the moral judgment development of college students, and after controlling for formal religious education, to see if there was also a significant relationship between the educational environment or…

The purpose of this research project was to compile and analyze data concerning the composition and geographic distribution of South Africa's population for the purpose of future educational planning to meet the needs of four population groups. This document contains statistics and conclusions on: (1) the role of population shifts and…

This report presents an analysis of the Governor's proposed State budget for fiscal year 1991-92. The analysis provides: (1) a discussion of major budget issues facing the Governor and the Legislature in constructing the 1991-92 State budget; (2) a brief overview of the Governor's proposed funding priorities; and (3) an analysis of the key policy…

This report contains detailed data on average salaries in the comparison institutions of the University of California and the California State University. It analyzes raw data submitted by comparison institutions for the University and State University and then provides a detailed written analysis of faculty salary parity computations. It is noted…

This fact book is a summary of current data about Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) and represents a compilation of historical data for a 5- to 10-year period as well as comparative data, both national and statewide. It is composed of seven sections that include information about enrollment, student characteristics, academic…

The analytical problems faced by gross interstate comparisons of higher education funding are reviewed, the overall usefulness to decision-makers of interstate comparisons, and other approaches to comparative analysis are considered. It is claimed that the usefulness of gross interstate comparisons is limited, since both technical and structural…

This report presents 1993 data on high school dropout and retention rates, examines high school completion and graduation rates, and discusses new data-collection efforts by the National Center for Education Statistics that have a direct bearing on the issues of high school dropout and graduation rates. The report also draws comparisons between…

Under the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act, institutions of higher education are required to review the effectiveness of their alcohol and drug prevention programs biannually. This guide offers a method for gathering and interpreting student survey data on alcohol-related problems based on the methodology of the College Alcohol Survey developed…

This report studies the role of teaching in the faculty reward structure by examining the relationship between faculty activities (teaching and instruction, research and scholarship, administration, public service) and compensation. The study examined the implicit emphases given by academic institutions to various faculty activities. The data…

This report summarizes trends identified in 25 years of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program's annual surveys of college freshmen. It documents an array of demographic, attitudinal, and social changes involving students entering the nation's colleges since the survey's inception in 1966. Major findings from this report point to…