The Impact of Education Research

Some recent evidence

Public skepticism toward education research has been growing, with many Americans expressing concerns about its relevance and effectiveness. A 2024 Gallup poll revealed that 73% of U.S. adults were dissatisfied with the quality of public education, marking the highest dissatisfaction rate since the survey began in 2001 (the74million.org). Similarly, a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of U.S. adults believed the public K-12 education system was heading in the wrong direction, citing issues such as insufficient focus on core academic subjects and teachers introducing personal political views into the classroom. As Bart Epstein, CEO of the Jefferson Education Exchange, put it: “What we are hearing loud and clear from teachers is that they feel as though the research is being done to them and not for them.” This disconnect between researchers and practitioners underscores a growing mistrust in education research and its practical value in real-world classrooms.

However, two recent analyses from Brookings and Education Next show just how important education research has been, often hidden behind the headlines about successful policy implementations. Yes, independent research often with government support has led to recognizable, robust, sustainable, and replicable policy interventions that have made life better for students and their schools.

Some of these examples include:

· Mississippi's rise in 4th-grade reading scores, attributed to evidence-based practices from the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, saw NAEP scores jump from 49th to 21st, inspiring over 30 states to adopt similar "science of reading" laws.

· An evaluation by the American Institutes for Research found that Early College High Schools significantly boost college enrollment and degree attainment, particularly for first-generation and low-income students, leading states like North Carolina and Texas to expand their networks.

· The MDRC evaluation of CUNY's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) showed that comprehensive academic and financial support doubled community college graduation rates, leading to citywide expansion in New York and replication of the model in multiple states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and others.

· Boston's pre-K program led to significant gains in literacy, language, math, executive function, and social-emotional skills, particularly for underserved students, leading to expanded enrollment and universal access, while informing pre-K program development in other cities and states.

· A randomized evaluation in Philadelphia found that a mailed postcard reminding parents about attendance reduced absenteeism, and weekly text messages and same-day absence notifications further reduced chronic absenteeism, leading to scale-up by the district and adoption by organizations like Attendance Works.

· Multi-tiered systems of support frameworks integrating academic, behavioral, and mental health supports have been adopted by over 30 states.

· Boston's Charter High Schools have positive and significant effects on college preparation, entry, and choice.

· The Market-Level Effects of Charter Schools on Student Outcomes study analyzes the impact of charter schools on student outcomes across U.S. school districts, finding that charter school expansion positively affects student achievement in both charter and traditional public schools.

· A study examining the effects of performance-based incentives and teacher selection on teacher effectiveness found that the IMPACT evaluation system improved teacher performance, particularly for lower-performing teachers.

Despite skepticism, evidence from successful, research-driven interventions shows that education research can lead to significant improvements in student outcomes. To bridge the gap between researchers and educators, it is essential that research becomes more accessible and responsive to real-world needs, ensuring future educational practices are both evidence-based and practical for today’s classrooms.