Education

School districts committed to empowering families with actionable, accessible information in support of student success should consider not only what digital communications tools they use, but how they are made available.

Schools subject to choice are less likely to respond to application inquiries from parents signaling their student has a behavior problem, requires intensive special education services, or has a record of poor academic performance.

Abstract: “The findings imply that most low-income families do not have a strong preference to stay in low-opportunity areas; instead, barriers in the housing search process are a central driver of residential segregation by income.”

Algorithms that place students in college courses based on future learning predictions can reduce the share of students in remedial courses and increase total credits–without reducing class pass rates.

Because students skip school with friends, social network maps can help target truancy interventions and reduce class absences.

Across-district school integration programs can boost academic outcomes for minority students but need to address other risks to student wellbeing.

By providing information about school quality, affordable housing websites can help families move to opportunity.

Automated text messages to parents show major promise for boosting school attendance and grades at a low cost to districts.

Parents tend to be overconfident about their child’s effort in school, and more frequent updates to parents can boost student effort and achievement.