Author
Brian A. Jacob
Articles
Measuring Up
Assessing instructor effectiveness in higher education
Principled Principals
New evidence from Chicago shows they fire the least effective teachers
Evaluating NCLB
Accountability has produced substantial gains in math skills but not in reading
In Low-Income Schools, Parents Want Teachers Who Teach
In affluent schools, other things matter
High Stakes in Chicago
Illustration by Noah Woods. As the first large urban school district to introduce a comprehensive accountability system, Chicago provides an exceptional case study of the effects of high-stakes testing-a reform strategy that will become omnipresent as the No Child Left Behind Act is implemented nationwide. One of the most serious criticisms of high-stakes testing is […]
To Catch a Cheat
The pressures of accountability may encourage school personnel to doctor the results from high-stakes tests. Here’s how to stop them.
When Principals Rate Teachers
The best—and the worst—stand out
Blog Posts/Multimedia
New Evidence on the Benefits of Small Group Math Instruction for Young Children
Small group instruction is ubiquitous in elementary schools when it comes to reading, but not for math. This study provides some preliminary evidence that small group instruction may be a promising approach for math instruction as well.
How Life Outside of School Affects Student Performance in School
Approximately 18 percent of Michigan third graders have been formally investigated by Child Protective Services for possible exposure to abuse or neglect.
Building Knowledge to Improve Degree Completion in Community Colleges
Policymakers should take steps to encourage colleges to adopt successful models such as ASAP and the Detroit Promise Path.
What We Know About Career and Technical Education in High School
States have been very active in passing laws about CTE. They now need to step up and support research that can help ensure these new initiatives are successful.
Chronic Absenteeism: An Old Problem in Search of New Answers
Roughly 14 percent of students nationwide miss at least 18 days of school.
The Evolution of the Charter School Market and the Next Generation of Charter School Research
A number of new research studies are beginning to investigate some more nuanced questions with regard to charters.
How the U.S. Department of Education Can Foster Education Reform in the Era of Trump and ESSA
By shining a spotlight on states with particularly low student performance, the department can bring attention to the struggles facing public education in these states.
The Wisdom of Mandatory Grade Retention
Mandatory grade retention is clearly popular, at least among many state legislators. But is it good policy?
