In this study, we take stock of fee-free secondary education (FSE) initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and review their impact on equitable access and achievement, as well as their cost-effectiveness. We begin by discussing the theoretical arguments for and against the abolition of secondary school fees. Second, we examine aggregate statistics on…

In the face of declining enrollments and increasing accountability and expectations, private colleges and universities will be facing greater internal and external pressures to deliver higher quality education at a lower cost. In this environment, multiple stakeholders are focused on institutional sustainability. To address these concerns, it is…

The research was commissioned by the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) and Universities' Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) to estimate the costs and possible impact on teacher supply of introducing a new Teacher Student Loan Reimbursement (TSLR) scheme. Under a TSLR scheme, the government pays back any…

Purpose: Calculating an organization's carbon footprint is crucial for assessing and implementing emission reductions. Although Finnish higher education institutions (HEIs) aim for carbon neutrality by 2030, limited research exists on plans to reach a similar target in any country. This paper aims to address the shared and individual challenges…

Return on investment (ROI) has become part of the policymaking toolkit, particularly pertinent for activities like school-based career guidance deemed optional by some policymakers. There are institutions supporting ideal ROI methods alongside an academic critique, but little research on how ROI has been applied in practice in a guidance setting.…

Although experimental evaluations have been labeled the "gold standard" of evidence for policy (U.S. Department of Education, 2003), evaluations without an analysis of costs are not sufficient for policymaking (Monk, 1995; Ross et al., 2007). Funding organizations now require cost-effectiveness data in most evaluations of effects. Yet,…

This study determined the optimal tuition subsidy necessary to increase two- and four-year college graduation in Texas. The study also estimated the per pupil and total cost of potential subsidies, and compared how they might affect college graduation rates. The goal of this exercise was to provide guidance on how the state could achieve the Texas…

High school graduation is a pivotal milestone that can shape students' future, offering them opportunities for higher education and gainful employment. Because research shows grade point averages and course failures to be predictive of high school graduation, it is important for students' life outcomes that their teachers assign them equitable…

Background: The salience of economic evaluation in education -- cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and benefit-cost analysis -- has been on the rise in recent years. In contexts when resources are especially scarce, research to support decision-making to maximize benefits to students is especially valuable. Economic evaluation can help to…

Children from low-income families face many social and economic disadvantages, and high-quality preschool can help to alleviate some of them. Is "preschool for all" the best way to extend preschool subsidies to unserved disadvantaged children? Fully funding such a policy would be costly, and it is likely that a significant minority of…

Over twenty years ago, an article by Richard Phelps addressed the benefits of the United States (US) educational system carrying out a complete adoption of the metric system of measurement. Today we find that the US is still in the same position in teaching both measurement systems in schools, which is a financial drain. This study sought to…

This document provides information on how to leverage E-Rate data from Connect K-12 in policy conversations. E-Rate is the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) universal service program for schools and libraries, and national nonprofit Connected Nation has aggregated district, state and national E-Rate data in a free internet speed and…

Understanding educational aspiration is pivotal for studying access to and success in higher education, given its influence on academic, occupational, and societal trajectories. Yet, aspiration is a challenging topic to research, in part because of its complex definitions, measurements, and contexts. This review focuses on the educational…

After decades of consistent growth, California transitional kindergarten (TK) through grade 12 public school enrollment has been declining and is expected to continue to do so for at least the next two decades. This report provides guidance on how districts in California and elsewhere can respond to declining enrollment in ways that strengthen…

This article addresses a new phenomenon in higher education internationalization: national policies seeking to reduce the number of incoming international students ('de-internationalization'). Such policies have been introduced in Denmark and the Netherlands, countries traditionally welcoming large numbers of international students in their higher…