- Evaluation Studies Underway
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Teacher Quality
- Choice
- English Language Learning
- Effectiveness of Educational Technology Interventions
- Supplemental Educational Services
- After-School Programs
- School-Based Violence Prevention Program
- Adult Education
- Student Mentoring Program
- Random Mandatory Drug Testing Study
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- Upward Bound Program
- Comprehensive Technical Assistance Centers
- Magnet School Assistance Program
- Technical Assistance
- Special Education
Evaluation of Conversion Magnet Schools
Contractors: American Institutes for Research and Berkeley Policy Associates
Key Staff:
Bruce Christenson (AIR)
Marian Eaton (AIR)
Julian Betts (University of California-San Diego)
Hans Bos (BPA)
Research Questions:
- Is there a sufficient number of conversion magnet schools funded by the 2004 and 2007 MSAP grants, and are sufficient data available, to conduct a quasi-experimental evaluation?
- Are data available for the relevant conversion magnet schools to permit experimental analyses of the impact of magnet programs on students admitted to those programs through lotteries?
- (If the evaluation phase is approved) What is the relationship between magnet school conversion and student achievement and other outcomes including minority group isolation in schools?
- (If the evaluation phase is approved) How do the relationships to student achievement and other outcomes vary according to the characteristics of magnet schools and of the regular public schools in the same districts?
Design: NCEE has awarded a contract to assess the feasibility of evaluating the relationship between magnet school conversion, minority group isolation, and student achievement at the elementary school level. If ED authorizes the contractor to conduct the evaluation, the contractor will use an interrupted-time series design that compares approximately 35 magnet schools and 70 comparison schools for at least three years before and after schools' conversion to magnet status. Data collection for the evaluation will include gathering of student test score records and surveys of principals in both magnet and non-magnet schools.
Duration: 18 months (September 2006 - March 2008) for feasibility phase; 42 months (April 2008 - September 2011) for optional evaluation phase.
Reports: The final report on this study will be announced on http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/.
Current Status: (December 2007) School districts are currently being screened to determine if a sufficient number is able to provide the data necessary for the evaluation.
