Mar 2023
Not Too Late: Improving Academic Outcomes Among Adolescents
Read our academic paper on the early Saga studies published in the American Economic Review.
Improving academic outcomes for economically disadvantaged students has proven challenging, particularly for children at older ages. We present two large-scale randomized controlled trials of a high-dosage tutoring program delivered to secondary school students in Chicago. One innovation is to use paraprofessional tutors to hold down cost, thereby increasing scalability. Participating in math tutoring increases math test scores by 0.18 to 0.40 standard deviations and increases math and non-math course grades. These effects persist into future years. The data are consistent with increased personalization of instruction as a mechanism. The benefit-cost ratio is comparable to many successful early-childhood programs.
Latest Updates
Schools stare down fiscal cliff as federal pandemic aid runs out
Politico’s Mackenzie Wilkes spoke with Senior Research Director Monica Bhatt about the Education Lab’s preliminary research showing the use of pandemic aid on intensive tutoring during the school day resulted in improvements to student learning in Chicago Public Schools and schools in Fulton County, Georgia.
With $8.5M Investment, New Mexico Tries Once Again to Get Tutoring Right
Linda Jacobson of The 74 cites the Education Lab’s work to help scale high dosage tutoring in New Mexico as part of our Personalized Learning Initiative.
NYC expands restorative justice programs: ‘This is for them to come feel safe’
The Gothamist’s Samantha Max cites Education Lab research that found using restorative practices to address student behavior can reduce arrests and suspensions.
