We investigate the beginning of the school discipline pipeline using a reform in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that limited the use of out-of-school suspension for students in grades K-2. We find that the reform reduced the likelihood of out-of-school suspension by 1.4 percentage points (56%) and had precise null effects on test scores and…

This document is the first of a semi-annual "stocktaking" publication to analyze various political trends impacting education and young people. Bellwether hopes to help the field separate signal from noise and provide context around various issues and trends affecting the sector. The impact of COVID-19 school closures on schools and…

The "Effect of Discipline Reform Plans on Exclusionary Discipline Outcomes in Minnesota" study examined the use of exclusionary discipline practices by Minnesota local education agencies from 2014/15 through 2018/19 and the extent to which the creation of discipline reform plans by identified local education agencies was associated with…

For the past few years there have been decreases in the average real per-pupil funding for secondary schools (Belfield, Farquharson and Sibieta, 2018). One possible impact of these cuts is a reduction in the number of different subjects or qualifications offered by schools. The main aim of this research was to investigate whether there was…

Candidates taking a reformed (decoupled) Advanced (A) level may follow an 'Advanced Subsidiary (AS) + A level' route in that subject, taking the decoupled AS level, usually in Year 12, followed by the A level, usually in Year 13. Alternatively, they may follow an 'A level only' route. The research described in this report explored whether there…

This report presents findings from two studies on Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level trends in 2018. The first part of the report describes national trends in AS level entries from analyses of data published by Ofqual. This updates the previous quantitative analysis of AS level trends in 2017 (Vitello & Williamson, 2018). The rest of the report…

This report presents findings from an ongoing research project monitoring the impact of the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) level reforms in England that came into effect from September 2015. Three studies were conducted in the spring of 2017, during the second year of teaching of decoupled AS and A levels. The first study analysed…

Schools should be safe, nurturing, and welcoming environments for all students. Frequently, exclusionary school discipline practices, which remove students from the classroom--even for minor infractions of school rules--through suspension or expulsion, prevent students from participating fully in their education. Suspensions, expulsions, and other…

The Oregon Statewide Report Card is an annual publication required by law (ORS 329.115), which reports on the state of Oregon's public schools. The purpose of the Statewide Report Card is to monitor trends among school districts and Oregon's progress toward achieving the goals referred to in ORS 329.015. This report also provides a tool that makes…

The Oregon Statewide Report Card is an annual publication required by law (ORS 329.115), which reports on the state of public schools. The purpose of the Statewide Report Card is to monitor trends among school districts and Oregon's progress toward achieving the goals referred to in ORS 329.015. In addition, this report provides a tool that makes…

This year's KIDS COUNT report delves into disparities in child well-being based on race and ethnicity in an effort to shine a light on issues where Colorado can and must do better at creating equitable opportunities for children. The disparities seen in many areas of child well-being did not just happen by coincidence; nor are they the result of…

As a new decade dawns, teachers stand at the center of a policy vortex. They serve as the primary focus of one of the Obama administration's four pillars of educational reform--effective teachers and leaders. Educational reformers of all stripes have focused tremendous energy on thinking of ways to identify effective teachers and in turn recruit,…

This interim progress report provides a look at Turnaround Arts schools in their first year, including: (1) a summary of the evaluation design and research questions; (2) a preliminary description of strategies used to introduce the arts in Turnaround Arts schools; and (3) a summary of school reform indicators and student achievement data at…

This paper reports on a study that explored the results of a statewide survey conducted in 21 randomly selected counties in Montana during fall 2000. Within each county, no more than 2 school districts were selected for further study, and within each school district, students in the 5th, 7th, and 9th grades were selected to participate in the…

Changes in women's participation in university education in Australia, as students, graduates, and faculty, are outlined with statistical data and analyzed in the context of Australia's economic history. Despite increased female participation at all levels, heavy imbalances are found to continue, particularly at the upper levels. (MSE)