Background: Early math knowledge is the strongest predictor of later academic achievement (Duncan et al., 2007), but math achievement gaps that are present during preschool prior to kindergarten entry (Starkey & Klein, 2008) persist in elementary school. This is especially true for young children who are very low-performing in math relative to…

Background: Computational thinking (CT) is a way of thinking that helps children solve problems and complete tasks in more organized ways, using computer science skills. Prior research indicates that promoting CT skills in young children can support the acquisition of general problem solving (PS), executive function (EF), and social emotional…

Background/Context: Access to education is seen as a critical aspect of personal success, with substantial implications for education systems and social well-being. In this context, the effectiveness of free college tuition is a hot topic in current higher education research (Bell, 2020), as there is no clarity on whether the benefits outweigh the…

Background: The compounding crises of Hurricane Maria, the 2020 earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico's territorial status, and the ongoing economic recession, have poignantly disrupted an already-stressed education system in Puerto Rico; including through the closing public schools due to compromised infrastructure after climate…

Background/Context: Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have become one of the most prevalent and rapidly growing social assistance strategies in developing countries. Typically, education-focused CCT programs provide monthly or bimonthly cash payments to students who meet specific attendance requirements. There is a wealth of literature documenting…

Background: Community colleges have the potential to be powerful vehicles for social mobility in the United States. As institutions with tuition rates that are a fraction of the cost of four-year public and private colleges, they are a critical resource for students looking for a relatively less expensive and more flexible option to attain a…

Background: Poverty-related disparities in school readiness are well documented (Dreyer, 2020). Increasing cognitively stimulating parenting practices can contribute greatly to addressing such disparities, and therefore represent a key modifiable target for preventive interventions beginning early in life (Brooks-Gunn & Markman, 2005).…

Background/Context: Many students in the United States need access to effective writing instruction, with some requiring intensive intervention. Results from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in writing over the past 25 years revealed that most students in the U.S. have yet to attain a proficient level of written expression…

Background: Much has been made of whether the evidence supporting mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) is consistent or high-quality enough to merit their wide implementation, and numerous meta-analyses, reviews, and meta-analyses of meta-analyses have been conducted in pursuit of this question (e.g., Bockmann & Yu, 2023; Goldberg et al.,…

Innovation is the central driver of economic growth. Many growth models underscore the importance of actively directing more individuals to innovation (Romer, 1990; Jones, 2022). This goal can be achieved by providing early exposure to innovation to children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds (Bell et al., 2019; Akcigit et al., 2020;…

Background/Context: Early childhood education research has consistently found evidence of immediate, positive effects on developmental outcomes. Despite these strong initial benefits, follow-up analyses often reveal that these effects fadeout in the years following participation (e.g., Bailey et al., 2017, Clements et al., 2013; Lipsey et al.…

Credit hour policies, or performance-based financial aid policies, have become increasingly popular among policymakers seeking to improve degree completion rates. In the Unites States, the college completion agenda has been bolstered by national calls from intermediary organizations and philanthropic foundations alike to raise the overall rate and…

Background: Over the last twenty years, retention has increased in popularity with policymakers who are concerned with student achievement and aim to end social promotion (i.e., the practice of advancing a student to the next grade level although they have not yet met the academic expectations of their current grade level). Despite calls to expand…

Background/Context: Students designated as English Learners (ELs) account for 10.4 percent of all students nationwide but have historically been provided unequal access to educational resources (Gándara et al., 2003; National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). Further, education policies are often blind to ELs' strengths and challenges,…

Background/Context: The early school years are an important time for building family-school relationships (Sibley & Dearing, 2014). As such, family engagement is a top priority of organizations that serve young children, such as Head Start. Children whose parents report being involved in their school demonstrate greater social competence and…