The challenge of basing education policy on sound research
Earlier this year, Mathematica Policy Research released a sophisticated study of federally funded after-school programs showing that such programs do not raise the academic achievement of participating students. After the Bush administration proceeded to reduce funding for these programs, some social scientists were pleased to see that the results of a high-quality study were--for once--influencing policymaking. Yet the study's conclusions have been ignored or scorned by advocates of more funding for after-school programs. A thoughtful piece by Jay Mathews explores the tensions between academic research and policymaking.
"Academic research a study in politics," by Jay Mathews, The Washington Post, April 22, 2003