Oct 2017

The Economics of Scale-Up

Jonathan Davis Jens Ludwig Kelly Hallberg Jon Guryan

National Bureau of Economic Research paper on a significant challenge in social program implementation – the dilemma of scaling up.

Read the paper here.

Related Resources
2025 Economic Report of the President
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2025 Economic Report of the President

Jan 2025

This report cites results from the Education Lab’s study of a high-dosage tutoring model–what we call “Saga Technology”–which found that substituting some tutor time with educational technology can reduce costs by one-third and halve the number of tutors needed without compromising effectiveness.

Briefing for Chicago Public Schools Elected School Board Candidates
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Briefing for Chicago Public Schools Elected School Board Candidates

Oct 2024

The Education Lab hosted a series of briefings for Chicago Public Schools’ elected school board candidates to provide practical tools and show how school board members can effectively use data to shape policy and improve student success.

How to Build It and Ensure They Will Come: Educators’ Advice on High-Dosage Tutoring Programs
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How to Build It and Ensure They Will Come: Educators’ Advice on High-Dosage Tutoring Programs

Aug 2024

Read a new brief from our partners at MDRC that highlights educators’ advice on implementing high-dosage tutoring programs.

NBER Working Paper: Can Technology Facilitate Scale? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation of High Dosage Tutoring
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NBER Working Paper: Can Technology Facilitate Scale? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation of High Dosage Tutoring

Jun 2024

This paper outlines results from the Education Lab’s study of a high-dosage tutoring model–what we call “Saga Technology”–which found that substituting some tutor time with educational technology can reduce costs by one-third and halve the number of tutors needed without compromising effectiveness.

Latest Updates

A restorative approach to student discipline shows promise in reducing suspensions and arrests
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A restorative approach to student discipline shows promise in reducing suspensions and arrests

Suspensions are a common form of official discipline implemented in American schools, but can alternative approaches prove effective in reducing harmful student behavior?

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UChicago Education Lab
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UChicago Education Lab leaders on NAEP scores: It’s worse than you think but there is a solution

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Jens Ludwig: Parents of private school students like the Lab School are also worried about the future of education

Education Lab faculty co-director Jens Ludwig pens and op-ed about parents’ concerns with America’s public schools.