The cover stories of our Summer 2019 issue address the increasingly popular topic of delaying school start times. A new study presents the first findings to quantify the academic benefits of later start times for all students. A second article examines how three districts have successfully pushed back start times for high-schoolers.
This issue also discloses how the achievement gap has—or hasn’t—changed over the last half-century. A new study contradicts current claims that socioeconomic achievement gaps have widened dramatically in recent years, but reports that gaps haven’t shrunk, either. Extremely disadvantaged students remain three to four years behind their more well-off peers.
To narrow achievement gaps, some education leaders are using a “whole-child” approach to teaching and learning. An expert forum weighs the pros and cons of a growing focus on social and emotional learning. We also explore how wraparound services benefit students outside the classroom but fail to move the needle on student learning.
Also in this issue, an examination how Wi-Fi in classrooms affects student health; a look at how California is recruiting badly needed bilingual teachers; and an analysis of how Democracy Prep charter schools boost student voting.
See the full list of contents below or at www.educationnext.org/journal.
Table of Contents
FEATURES
The Achievement Gap Fails to Close
Half century of testing shows persistent divide between haves and have-nots
By Eric A. Hanushek, Paul E. Peterson, Laura M. Talpey, and Ludger Woessmann
To Bring Back Bilingual Ed, California Needs Teachers
Districts offer bonuses of up to $10,000 to woo scarce instructional talent
By Joanne Jacobs
Is Wi-Fi a Health Threat in Schools?
Sorting fact from fiction
By Kenneth R. Foster
Supporting Students Outside the Classroom
Can wraparound services improve academic performance?
By Michael Q. McShane
How to Make School Start Later
Early-morning high school clashes with teenage biology, but change is hard
By Danielle Dreilinger
RESEARCH
Rise and Shine
How school start times affect academic performance
By Jennifer Heissel and Samuel Norris
A Life Lesson in Civics
How Democracy Prep charter schools boost student voting
By Brian P. Gill, Charles Tilley, Emilyn Whitesell, Mariel Finucane, Liz Potamites, and Sean P. Corcoran
FORUM
Should Schools Embrace Social and Emotional Learning?
Debating the merits and costs
By Robert Balfanz and Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst
FROM THE EDITORS
Not So Apolitical, After All
By Martin R. West
LEGAL BEAT
Bullying Bolick
By Joshua Dunn
BOOK REVIEWS
Ghosts in the Schoolyard by Eve L. Ewing
As reviewed by Paul E. Peterson
As reviewed by Marilyn Anderson Rhames
Information, Incentives, and Education Policy by Derek A. Neal
As reviewed by Michael McPherson
WHAT NEXT
The Baby Bust Goes to School
By Michael J. Petrilli
SCHOOL LIFE
Q&A: Seth Andrew
