Research for Action

Happy 14th Anniversary, Mark Duffy! 🎉 We’re thrilled to celebrate Mark’s incredible dedication and contributions to RFA. As a Senior Research Associate, Mark has been a cornerstone of our team, consistently delivering exceptional research and insights. His expertise and passion have made a significant impact on our work. Congratulations, Mark! Here's to many more years of success.

Head Start teacher turnover has reached unprecedented levels, with significant implications for early childhood education. Our latest research examines the factors contributing to this alarming trend. By analyzing administrative data and conducting in-depth research, we've identified key drivers of turnover, including compensation, the impact of COVID-19, and broader workforce challenges. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective strategies to improve teacher retention and enhance program quality. #HeadStart #earlychildhoodeducation #teacherretention #education #research #workforcedevelopment

#NEW - To earn a diploma, Pennsylvania high school must now demonstrate college or career readiness through one of several pathways. Two of these pathways require passing state exams in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature, known as Keystone Exams. Students can take the Keystone exams in the same school year as they take the associated course or in subsequent school years (or both). But when do most students take their Keystone-associated courses and exams? We wanted to understand the full picture of when and how students get to the exams. Our findings are in a new report: The When and How of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia. The findings below first focus on students’ course-taking patterns. Table 1 shows that most students first attempted Keystone-associated courses in 9th or 10th grade, though the share of students in each grade differed by exam subject. And so do their outcomes. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/ey4Z9Q2J

Head Start teacher turnover is on the rise. Our latest research examines the factors driving this concerning trend, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with compensation. The study found that teacher turnover rates surged in 2020-2021 and reached a peak in 2021-2022. The report underscores the urgent need for solutions to improve teacher retention and ensure the continued success of Head Start programs. Kendall LaParo, PhD (she/her) shares more on the RFA blog. https://lnkd.in/emCkTGVm

Very excited to share this new work, based on what we're learning in our study of dev-ed reform in California. Embedding tutors in corequisite-paired courses is a promising practice, in part because it reduces the stigma students face when seeking help and making it more accessible. Check it out!

#NEW - Our latest research reveals a concerning trend in Head Start: a significant increase in teacher turnover, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By analyzing data from 2010 to 2022, we identified key factors contributing to this crisis, including low compensation and pandemic-related challenges. Addressing this issue is critical for ensuring the long-term success of early childhood education programs. #headstart #earlychildhoodeducation #teacherretention #research #education #ECE

We’re seeking interns! 🔍 RFA is seeking 3-4 interns with diverse methods experience (qual, quant, mixed). Help us with research projects from start to finish! Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/exG4PBE2 #internship #research #hiring Please help us spread the word!

Are you a highly motivated student looking for an internship? RFA offers opportunities to work on impactful projects alongside experienced researchers. We're seeking research interns with diverse methodological skills to join our team. Inquire within. https://lnkd.in/ddJ9MNbz

Colleges are thinking differently about how to place entering students into courses. They’re moving away from placement exams and other aspects of developmental education. Think: issues of college access, student debt, graduation rates, and equitable outcomes. But how are college faculty faring with these big changes? RFA Senior Research Associate Kri Burkander shared this in a recent webinar. ▶️Watch it here. https://lnkd.in/ek5JJTaB

Want to know how the #CattoScholarship is helping Philly students? Our new report, "For the Good of the City," breaks it down. We looked at how this scholarship program is opening doors to college and setting students up for success. The Catto Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it covers the costs *after* other aid is used. We conducted an early evaluation of the initiative. We compared it to other similar programs and looked at what makes it special. Bottom line: Money matters, but students need more than just tuition covered. Our report shows that things like housing, mental health, and childcare can be big hurdles. The Catto program can help students with these too. We made a few recommendations that draw on the strengths of the school, city, and partners: ✅ More support for students outside of the classroom (housing, mental health, etc.) ✅ Better tools for the people who help students (Success Coaches) ✅ Building a stronger sense of community among scholarship recipients 🌐 Dive in here. https://lnkd.in/e5_xwSK5 #Philly #HigherEd #CCPEdu #scholarships #collegefunding #wraparoundservices #studentsuccess #collegeforall #philadelphia