Research for Action Roundup

RFA Roundup
Insights Into Action.

New Data and Analysis on Students Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania

This PACER brief provides RFA’s updated analysis of data on students experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania, highlighting prevalence, challenges with identification, disparities in educational opportunities, and impact on academic outcomes. Our main findings include that:

Roughly 2% of students in Pennsylvania were identified as experiencing homelessness in 2021-22, a slight increase from prior years.
Pennsylvania has seen a statewide increase in the identification rate of homelessness (the rate of student homelessness/the rate of students in poverty), but continues to rank below the national average, now 30th out of the 50 states.
Students experiencing homelessness are heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania’s most inadequately funded school districts, which provide fewer educational opportunities, and are increasingly enrolled in cyber charter schools where research has documented consistently poor overall student outcomes.
Pennsylvania’s students experiencing homelessness are exhibiting worse academic outcomes compared with all students and other economically disadvantaged students.

These findings underscore the urgent need for school leaders and policymakers in Pennsylvania to prioritize new resources and comprehensive strategies to support students experiencing homelessness.

DIVE DEEPER

Relationships First in the School District of Philadelphia

Black Educators Resist Anti-CRT Backlash

A recent surge in “Anti-Critical Race Theory” (CRT) legislation has sparked national debate about the role of race in education. However, a new study by RFA’s Leana Cabral, Siettah Parks, and Bank Street’s Amy Stuart Wells published in Thresholds in Education reveals a deeper issue: the attempted silencing of effective teaching practices for students of color. The article explores the historical context of Black educators who have long navigated oppressive educational systems through “fugitive pedagogies."

EXPLORE

Shape a More Equitable Future for SWPA Education

You’re invited to join a special forum titled “Co-Creating a Vision for Shared Measurement to Drive Educator Diversity in SWPA.” We’re cohosting this free, in-person event along with the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium. We will welcome Junious Williams, senior advisor at Collective Impact Forum, on December 14, 2024, at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. He’ll share how data can help create fairer outcomes in our communities and guide a vision for positive change in SWPA. Sign up with the link below.

Using College Placement Reform to Catalyze Institutional Change

Watch: Research Insights from the ASAP | ACE Replication Collaborative

The CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is a nationally recognized model that dramatically improves college completion rates. Since 2007, it has served 100,000 students within the CUNY system and expanded to seven states through the ASAP | ACE National Replication Collaborative. One successful replication is the Catto Scholarship at the Community College of Philadelphia. Research for Action team members Kri Burkander and Karin Gegenheimer recently presented early findings at a CUNY ASAP convening, showing how it effectively serves students of color and those from low-income backgrounds, boosting persistence and completion rates compared to their peers. They also highlighted the need for additional wraparound support (housing, mental health, childcare) and staff support to maintain program efficacy and expand to serve more students.

WATCH

Recent News

RFA in the News: Insights on School Closures

Following the publication of a recent brief on the topic, RFA’s Mary Eddins and Maja Pehrson talked with WESA 90.1 FM about enrollment, facilities use, and school closures in Pittsburgh. They emphasized the importance of sending displaced students to high-quality receiving schools and how academic achievement among displaced students can increase when they're moved to schools with "high levels of teacher attention and trust.” In addition, they discussed the broader economic impacts of school closures on communities.

LISTEN

“Octavius Catto didn’t wait on the sidelines, so neither shall we!”

Corequisite Courses: Navigating Challenges in California's Community Colleges

Corequisite courses offer a promising approach to supporting student success in math and English, providing additional academic support alongside transfer-level coursework. However, implementation varies widely across California community colleges. Key challenges include complex registration processes, inconsistent faculty support, and varied approaches to academic remediation. Despite potential benefits, these variations may impact the effectiveness of the corequisite model in helping students achieve their academic goals. Learn more from RFA’s Higher Education team.

Research Analyst Opportunity at Research for Action

Are you passionate about using research to create a more equitable education system? We are seeking a talented Research Analyst to join our Philadelphia-based team (with remote-first flexibility). This is your chance to:

Conduct data analysis for impactful mixed-methods research studies,
Support RFA's mission to advance educational equity and social justice,
Manage projects and potentially supervise interns.

We're looking for someone with:

1-3 years of research experience.
Strong statistical software skills (Stata preferred).
The ability to conduct basic statistical analyses.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

More details about the position are here. Submit your resume/CV and cover letter online, or share this newsletter with someone who should see this position announcement.

APPLY

About RFA

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Research for Action conducts research, evaluations, and technical assistance to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all learners.

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