Identify research that can inform your grantmaking using summaries prepared by the Foundation Center.
MDRC
Bloom, Howard S.; Rebecca Unterman
January 2012
Evaluates how effectively small academically nonselective high schools that replaced large failing ones achieved sustained improvement in academic progress and graduation rates across variations in prior proficiency, family income, and demographics.
Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Race to the Top Coalition
Pauley, Elizabeth
November 2011
Highlights early outcomes of school reform efforts launched under a new state law with support from the Race to the Top program, including progress in turnaround schools, charter schools, and innovation schools. Outlines challenges and recommendations.
Funder(s): Boston Foundation
Center for American Progress
Blank, Martin J.; Reuben Jacobson; Atelia Melaville
January 2012
Outlines the importance of and strategies for building and maintaining successful partnerships for community schools that integrate academics, youth development, family support, health and social services, and community development. Makes recommendations.
Funder(s): JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Center for American Progress
Epstein, Diana
August 2011
Examines differences in per-pupil school funding among states, inequities among districts within states, and their implications. Calls for a progressive fiscal equity measure that would encourage state school financing reform.
Funder(s): Ford Foundation
Public Policy Institute of California
Cannon, Jill S.; Stephen Lipscomb
March 2011
Analyzes risk factors of retention through third grade in the L.A. Unified School District, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, family income, and English learner status; retention's effectiveness in improving grade-level skills; and educators' views.
Funder(s): William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Wallace Foundation
March 2011
Updates a 2009 guide with new research on what an effective school leader does; how to improve the training of principals to meet the tough demands of their jobs; how districts can better support and evaluate principals; and how to expand learning time.
Funder(s): Wallace Foundation
Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
December 2010
Presents findings from data collected in the Broad Prize selection process on large urban districts with higher-than-state-average performance among African-American, Latino, and low-income students and the policies and practices behind their success.
Funder(s): Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
Washington Monthly
Colvin, Richard Lee; Sarah Garland; Betsy Hammond; Dale Mezzacappa
July 2010
Describes data-driven efforts to raise high school graduation rates in New York, Philadelphia, and Portland, Oregon by replacing low-performing schools with smaller schools or offering alternative schools and programs, as well as their outcomes to date.
Funder(s): Boston Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Spencer Foundation, William Penn Foundation
Civil Rights Project
Losen, Daniel J.; Russell Skiba
September 2010
Examines the rise in school suspensions; their effectiveness; the widening racial/ethnic discipline gap, especially for African-American boys; and the impact of suspensions on academic success and likelihood of incarceration. Makes policy recommendations.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation, Poverty and Race Research Action Council
FSG Social Impact Advisors
Kutash, Jeff; Emily Gorin; Eva Nico; Samira Rahmatullah; Kate Tallant
September 2010
Outlines approaches to turning around low-performing schools, lessons from early efforts, gaps to be filled, and critical actions to implement effective practices, create supportive policies and conditions, and build capacity and sustainability at scale.
Funder(s): Carnegie Corporation of New York, Wallace Foundation
Urban Institute
Turner, Margery Austin; Alan Berube
July 2009
Recommends coordinating housing and education policies to create mixed-income neighborhoods with good schools and quality educators, to lower student turnover, and to improve health, nutrition, and school readiness. Presents examples of local initiatives.
Funder(s): George Gund Foundation, Heinz Endowments, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Metropolitan Leadership Council
Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis
June 2009
Analyzes the impact of Experience Corps tutoring on elementary school students' reading comprehension as measured by four tests. Considers factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, grade, classroom behavior, English proficiency, and special education needs.
Funder(s): Atlantic Philanthropies
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Mediratta, Kavitha; Norm Fruchter; Dana Lockwood; Sara McAlister; Christina Mokhtar; Seema Shah
March 2008
Assesses the impact of community organizing for school reform on student outcomes such as attendance and test scores, school-community relationships, parent engagement, teacher morale, and policy and resource distribution at the system level.
Funder(s): Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Ford Foundation
Petrovich, Janice
March 2008
Reviews the activities and lessons of Ford's thirteen-year initiative to help communities realize changes in schools through constituency- and coalition-building, policy research and evaluation, strategic communication, and networking.
Funder(s): Ford Foundation
California Dropout Research Project
Rumberger, Russell W.
February 2008
Synthesizes ongoing CDRP research to outline the scope, the causes, and the costs of the state's high school dropout crisis. Proposes a policy agenda to raise the graduation rate, with separate recommendations for the state, districts, and schools.
Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Walter S. Johnson Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Looks at Casey's efforts to influence the education policy environment by gathering evidence of proven and promising practices, engaging target audiences, and delivering accessible messages. Profiles influence tools that have led to concrete results.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Outlines Casey's framework for measuring program results in terms of direct impact; influence on opinion, practice, or policy; and leverage to increase public and private investment in the program. Includes lessons learned and selected results.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Provides an overview of Casey's investments in charter schools, lessons learned, and challenges in securing funding, facilities, and teacher supply. Presents selected results such as higher reading and math scores and profiles of successful schools.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Highlights Casey's multi-year investment in an Atlanta school district, and examines contributing factors to improvements at one middle school in particular. Includes summaries of Casey's support for district improvement in Oakland and Philadelphia.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Outlines Casey's investment in the District of Columbia's voucher program, as well as results, lessons learned, and suggestions for improving legislation. Includes profiles of Casey-supported efforts to improve programs in Florida and Wisconsin.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Highlights Casey's support for community schools — public schools enhanced by partnerships with organizations that provide programs for the entire community in low-income neighborhoods. Includes profiles of successful schools and lessons learned.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read, Tory
January 2008
Outlines Casey's early investment in the Indianapolis mayor's charter initiative as part of an effort to support innovative but as yet unproven programs, seed results, and attract co-investment. Describes the impact of program-related investments.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
California Dropout Research Project
Socias, Miguel; Lenay Dunn; Mari Muraki; Thomas Parrish; LaRena Woods
December 2007
Based on interviews with principals of schools with better graduation rates, test scores, and dropout rates compared to others of similar student composition, outlines policies and practices that contribute to high graduation rates and academic standards.
Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Walter S. Johnson Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Jehl, Jeanne
February 2007
Provides an overview of the foundation's investment philosophy and its approach to defining and documenting grantmaking results. Highlights the work of seven school/family/community partnerships and the results they have achieved.
Funder(s): Annie E. Casey Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Hirota, Janice
September 2005
Aims to explore, record, and glean lessons from the New Century High Schools initiative and partnership strategy, which transforms low performing high schools in New York City into campuses of small autonomous schools featuring community partnerships.
Funder(s): Carnegie Corporation of New York
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Huebner, Tracy; Grace Calisi Corbett
February 2005
Examines the progress that has been made at five small schools across the U.S. that are representative of a growing network of more focused, academically rigorous high schools being developed to help students succeed in both high school and college.
Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Alliance for Excellent Education
Biancarosa, Gina; Catherine Snow
2004
Outlines fifteen key elements that educators can use to develop an effective adolescent literacy intervention program. Focuses on elements of interventions that are most promising for students that struggle with reading and writing after third grade.
Funder(s): Carnegie Corporation of New York
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