What the Research Says

From the pages of Education Week: a roundup of recent education studies
Students in the education and community health pathway sculpt a clay model of the endocrine system at Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., in 2017.
Students in the education and community health pathway sculpt a clay model of the endocrine system at Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., in 2017.
Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Student Achievement What the Research Says What's the Secret to a Long, Healthy Life? Staying in School, a Study Finds
A 59-country analysis finds that every year of schooling extends your life.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 23, 2024
3 min read
Conceptual image of magnifying glass and rating/grades.
Seng kui Lim/Getty
Curriculum What the Research Says Picking 'Evidence-Based' Programs: 5 Mistakes for Educators to Avoid
Education researchers share key insights on what to do when evaluating studies and reviews.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 19, 2024
6 min read
Vector illustration of diverse children, students climbing up on a top of a stack of staggered books.
iStock/Getty
Accountability What the Research Says More than 1 in 4 Schools Targeted for Improvement, Survey Finds
The new federal findings show schools also continue to struggle with absenteeism.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 18, 2024
2 min read
A teacher looks at a book with young children.
E+/Getty
Reading & Literacy What the Research Says How Short 'Bursts' of Tutoring Can Boost Early Reading Skills
An ongoing study of early literacy tutors finds learning gains over two years.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 17, 2024
3 min read
Illustration of sad figure in dark room with window.
Benjavisa/Getty
School Climate & Safety What the Research Says A Snapshot of Crime and Safety in Schools
The latest federal data show fewer crime and drug incidents in high schools in the 2021-22 school year.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 17, 2024
3 min read
photograph of a magnifying glass on an open book
Valiantsin Suprunovich/iStock
Data What the Research Says What Does 'Evidence-Based' Mean? A Study Finds Wide Variation.
Fewer than 1 in 3 education interventions get consistent judgments on their evidence base from reviewers.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 10, 2024
5 min read
Scrambled letter tiles on a blue background
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy What the Research Says 3 New Studies to Know on Screening Students for Dyslexia
More than 40 states now require screening for dyslexia.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 4, 2024
3 min read
Blue concept image of research - promo
iStock/Getty
School & District Management What the Research Says 10 Education Studies You Should Know From 2023
These studies yielded new insights on social media, ChatGPT, and math, among other topics.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 21, 2023
7 min read
Image of people at voting booths.
LPETTET/E+
Social Studies What the Research Says Civics Is About Skills, Not Just Facts. How Do Schools Measure Students' Readiness?
Most state assessments aren't testing how students civically engage in their communities, a new report finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 19, 2023
4 min read
Images of math equations.
iStock/Getty
Student Achievement What the Research Says Students Are Regaining Academic Ground—Except in Math
Schools report fewer students below grade level in most core subjects, federal data show.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 14, 2023
3 min read
Illustration of large calendar with people scheduling and planning with post it notes, pencil, laptop and magnifying glass
iStock/Getty
School & District Management What the Research Says What a Difference a Day Makes: How Schools Can Harness More Learning Time
Schools that are in session the longest provide five more weeks a year of learning time than those at the bottom of the scale.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 12, 2023
2 min read
Kids in middle school working on assignment together
E+ / Getty
School Climate & Safety What the Research Says Digital Distractions in Class Linked to Lower Academic Performance
The 2022 Program for International Student Assessment found that two-thirds of U.S. students get distracted by digital devices in class.
Lauraine Langreo, December 8, 2023
2 min read
Teenage student taking notes during class
E+
Mathematics What the Research Says How Schools Can Diversify Math Course-Taking
Low-income students and students of color take fewer advanced-math courses—or start taking them later—than their white peers.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 7, 2023
4 min read
Illustration in blue and red of a student learning algebra from math teacher
iStock/Getty
Student Achievement What the Research Says How Absenteeism, Math Anxiety, and Other Factors Shaped the Troubling Results From PISA
Dire results on the Program for International Student Assessment should start conversations. Here's how.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 6, 2023
5 min read