This paper compares the learning gain over one year of schooling among 15-year-old students in Austria and Scotland (United Kingdom). Common metrics for reading, mathematics and science learning, as established by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), are used. In order to overcome the limitations of a cross-sectional,…

Background: Differences in competence gains between academic and non-academic track schools are often attributed to selection effects based on students' primary school performance and socioeconomic status (SES). However, how the competencies of comparable students (in terms of school performance and social background) at different tracks develop…

Computer-based testing is becoming dominant for assessments in education. In New York, students take state assessments, which are now administered digitally. While this transition in technology offers advantages, there are also challenges, including insufficient digital literacy for students to adequately meet the technological demands of the…

We study the peer effects of grade retention in the context of Indiana's statewide third-grade retention policy. When a retention occurs, it changes the peer group for two cohorts: rising fourth graders who lose a peer and rising third graders who gain a peer. We identify peer effects in both cohorts by leveraging plausibly exogenous variation in…

This study aims to integrate the technology acceptance model, classroom environment theory, and positive psychology theory to explore the relationships among learners' technology acceptance (TA), perceived online classroom environment (POCE), emotional states (enjoyment, anxiety, boredom, and burnout), and academic achievement in online classes.…

This article provides robust empirical evidence for the association between science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and student achievement. Unlike previous studies, we employed two approaches (text-based vs. video-based tests) to assess if, and to what extent, teachers' PCK assessed by these two approaches are related to student…

Despite the emergence of test-optional policies, standardized admission tests continue shaping the college composition and financial aid prospects of hundreds of thousands of students. This is concerning for the following reasons: (a) standardized test results have historically favored test-takers from wealthier and majority backgrounds, (b) test…

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was a major disruptor to K-12 learning and instruction in general, there is particular concern that there was differential impact by student group and instructional mode offered (e.g., in-person versus remote learning). The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Long-Term Trend (LTT) assessment…

The purpose of this study was to examine the academic impact of two distinct tutoring approaches implemented in a public elementary school in Virginia. The study focused on two tutoring models: a collaboratively designed university-based program that leverages pre-service teachers for in-school tutoring and a state-funded after-school initiative,…

This report presents normative data for the easyCBM reading and mathematics assessment system, designed for students in Grades K-8 to support academic screening and progress monitoring. The normative indices provide educators with reliable benchmarks for identifying students at risk for academic difficulties, setting growth targets, and evaluating…

We examine grading biases by gender, migration status, and class achievement using standardized tests and grades from three full cohorts in language and mathematics. Significant biases favoring girls and native students are found in language. In mathematics, a bias favoring girls appears only when controlling for class achievement. A strong…

Knowledge and its acquisition are central to the field of curriculum studies, but the ways in which empirical studies of pedagogical approaches relate to theories of knowledge acquisition are under researched. This paper reports the outcomes of a rapid evidence assessment about the impacts of "experiential learning" (EL), regarded by…

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Relay Graduate School of Education's (GSE) residency-based alternative certification program in Texas, focusing on student achievement and teacher retention. Using a value-added empirical framework, we compare Relay-trained teachers to a matched group of educators from 25 similar preparation programs…

The study examines the impact of lens exploration and navigation stations (LENS) activity on students' academic performance in bio-inspired optics, focusing on the gain score, to provide empirical evidence on its effectiveness in fostering deeper comprehension and engagement. The design of the study is quantitative research and uses a…

In Norway, children aged one to five years can attend subsidized and publicly regulated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centers. These centers focus on holistic child development through play, care, and learning. Therefore, Norway should be capable of providing young children with the best possible ECEC environment, thereby laying a…