Evaluations

Policy Publications

Search our database of policy briefcases, bulletins, and evidence reviews. Briefcases summarize the results and policy recommendations from one randomized evaluation, while bulletins synthesize the broader policy lessons emerging from multiple evaluations on the same topic. Evidence reviews summarize an existing academic literature review, like a handbook chapter or white paper, for a policy audience.

Displaying 1-9 of 20
A student sits at their desk applying hand sanitizer and wearing a face mask.

Ideas to improve educational outcomes during and after the Covid-19 outbreak

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
September 8, 2022
At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, an unprecedented 1.6 billion children and youth were out of school. In many contexts, children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are at risk of being left further behind as schools reopen around the world. This evidence wrap-up shares ideas for...
A young woman presents a lesson in a classroom.

Getting Parents Involved

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
July 20, 2021
Parental involvement meetings increased parents’ participation in their children’s education and reduced delinquent behavior and absenteeism in France. Positive effects were also seen in classmates whose parents did not participate in the program.
A man tutors two young students

The Transformative Potential of Tutoring for Pre K-12 Learning Outcomes: Lessons from Randomized Evaluations

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
September 16, 2020
J-PAL’s Tutoring Evidence Review aims to serve as a resource as education leaders, policymakers, and funders work to combat the Covid-19 learning loss, improve student learning outcomes, and minimize the growth of academic disparities.
Sule Alan talks to children in a classroom in Turkey.

Understanding Each Other: Improving Inter-Ethnic Cohesion in Schools in Turkey

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
August 4, 2020
  • Sule Alan
  • Ceren Baysan
  • Mert Gumren
  • Elif Kubilay
An interactive classroom program encouraging students to consider one another’s perspectives in Turkey lowered peer violence, improved relationships between refugee and Turkish students, and increased prosocial behaviors like trust, cooperation, and altruism.
Two high school students sit at desks with their tutor for personalized instruction

Will Technology Transform Education for the Better?

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
January 1, 2019
In recent years, there has been widespread excitement around the transformative potential of technology in education. The hype around education technology is rapidly outpacing evaluation of ed tech programs. How do we ensure that these innovative tools are actually helping our students learn? And...
Classroom in Italy | Photo by Stefano Guidi Shutterstock.com

Mind the Gap: Aligning Immigrant Students' Aspirations to Abilities

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 27, 2018
Offering tutoring and career counseling to high-performing immigrant students closed the educational gap between native-born and immigrant boys in Italy.
Children and a teacher in the classroom. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Are All Students Ready for Boarding?

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 19, 2018
Disadvantaged students who attended France’s first “boarding school of excellence” had large improvements in math scores after two years. Students initially experienced reductions in well-being, but adjusted to their new environment by the second year.
parents attending school information meetings. Photo: Aude Guerrucci | J-PAL

Considering All the Options: A Low-Cost Way to Reduce School Dropout

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 19, 2018
Parent meetings with school principals that provided guidance on selecting academic tracks helped reduce grade repetition and high school dropout among low-achieving students in France.
College students

Simplifying the Barriers Along the Bridge to College

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
February 20, 2018
While past approaches to helping students transition to college have focused on increasing financial aid, the college application process itself presents a barrier to college access. J-PAL's new policy bulletin summarizes five randomized evaluations of interventions designed to improve college...