Research Studies

This unique resource is for you:

If your governor or your legislator has asked you to tell him/her what the research says on education issues
If you don't know whom to trust -- and find it difficult to navigate potential bias and the selective use of data
If you don't have time to read 25 pages and trudge through complicated explanations of methodology
If you need to cut through the mud right to the findings and policy implications.

We've started small -- with studies on issues such as dropout prevention, high school curriculum, ninth grade transitions, advanced placement and supports for low-performing schools and districts. We plan to add studies in other areas: teaching quality, postsecondary completion, early learning and so on. Keep checking back for additions to this resource.

What you'll find in the ECS Research Studies Database:

Concise, bulleted lists of Findings and Results
Concise, bulleted lists of Policy Implications and Recommendations.

Criteria for inclusion:

Wide-reaching recommendations and policy implications
Implications for state-level policy
Interventions hold potential for replication
Peer-reviewed/juried -- although exceptions will be made on a
case-by-case basis.

What you need to do:

To start, click on FAQs or SEARCH in the left margin of this page.
Use the findings and recommendations to inform policy decisions
Let us know how it might be improved
Send us suggestions for studies you would like us to include
Help us prioritize the issues around which you really need help.

The ECS Research Studies Database was developed in the scope of work of the ECS High School Policy Center.

ECS will quickly honor any request from a study's author or organization or publisher to remove any study included here. We also welcome submissions. Contact Kathy Christie at 303-299-3613 or kchristie@ecs.org with feedback, requests for inclusions or requests for removal.

Disclaimer:

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Education Commission of the States. Please contact Kathy Christie at 303-299-3613 or kchristie@ecs.org for further information regarding the information posting standards and user policies of the Education Commission of the States.