http://www.mdrc.org Publications, Fast Facts, Issue Focus Briefs, and Videos from MDRC us-en © 2007 MDRC 2010-07-22 Brad Petrie <brad.petrie@mdrc.org> Brad Petrie <brad.petrie@mdrc.org> http://www.mdrc.org/images/site/nav_logo.gif http://www.mdrc.org http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=VEJfvx_3tSIkdWhPedjf A random assignment study of learning communities that linked a developmental reading course and a college success course finds that faculty collaboration and curricular integration increased over time. Overall, the program had no impact on students academic success, but evidence suggests that it had some positive effects for the last cohort of students in the study. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=pqM9UwPSaweYXFLBy1Jc Taking advantage of lottery-like features in New York Citys high school admissions process, this study provides rigorous evidence that new small public high schools are narrowing the educational attainment gap and markedly improve graduation prospects, particularly for disadvantaged students. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=4labTad9095d6WrYpuhE This report presents the final implementation and impact findings for 12 programs in the national Employment Retention and Advancement project, sponsored by the federal Administration for Children and Families. These programs attempted to promote steady work and career advancement for current and former welfare recipients and other low-wage workers, most of whom were single mothers. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=ZOwQrjaXUKfGw79KSBRw This report analyzes the experiences of five community colleges that participate in Lumina Foundations Achieving the Dream initiative and the investments they made in implementing an institutional improvement process aimed at increasing students success. The report examines how, where, and with what resources these colleges supported their reforms, as well as the key activities driving their overall expenditures. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=46Nyg93C93UmC4_hVziG Interim results from a random assignment evaluation of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, an intensive, residential program for high school dropouts, show that young people who had access to ChalleNGe were much more likely than those in the control group to have obtained a high school diploma or a General Educational Development certificate. They were also somewhat more likely to be working, in college, or enlisted in the military. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=vLC3N_S1tQ6f4sVog6NT In this article reprinted from True/Slant, Chicago-based journalist Megan Cottrell takes a second look at MDRCs recent report on early findings from New York Citys conditional cash transfer demonstration, Opportunity NYC-Family Rewards. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=hC3XDaq_Jfm6u1Ja9xhi In a commentary that originally appeared in Youth Today, Rob Ivry makes the case for summer bridge programs for rising high school seniors who are college-bound but not yet college-ready. They would take college prep classes on community college campuses, where they would also have summer jobs. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=UbCxQpk2dWxLSPQPHnXu At many community colleges, students dont get the support, like counseling and tutoring, they need to navigate through college successfully; often college staff are overburdened and students dont know how to access the services that are available. Recent research from MDRC suggests that particular enhancements can lead to better use of student services and to modest improvements in academic outcomes. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=uzjomEvQ2y_OVH9ObatL Too many students graduate from high school unprepared for the rigors of postsecondary education. College readiness programs seek to fill the gap. This issue focus describes some common features of these programs and outlines open research questions. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=vMvAMgNv4fQkfA_ip7_X Nearly one in seven 18- and 19-year-olds are disconnected from the worlds of school and work. In a labor market that values education and skills, these young people are at a serious disadvantage. How can we build on the early promise of several current youth programs? http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=_LzolPVoQukD8fLfbJXl Young children who can interact well with teachers and peers are more likely to succeed in preschool and beyond. This six-minute video, produced by The MacArthur Foundation, profiles MDRCs Foundations of Learning Project, a demonstration in Newark and Chicago that is testing an innovative program that combines teacher training with in-class clinical consultation to support childrens emotional and behavioral development in preschool. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=w4yi0lXABq74THTRpbK0 In this seven-minute video, MDRC researcher Lashawn Richburg-Hayes summarizes promising findings about a performance-based scholarship that boosted academic achievement and retention rates at two New Orleans-area community colleges. http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=_2uyJ3krMzBb1OOadXsI http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=Qk1Z76eJRTbVyMBlbK4h http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=QnExl2Id0sItLhUS3Noy http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=iyNCK5mSa1PRHS1XWarL http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=ArwdSXoLXVzp2uxj_A35