This study explores the association between school-level poverty rates and young peoples' perceptions of student empowerment, drawing on survey and administrative data from a large urban district. Participants included 29,318 diverse youth in grades 6-12 from 211 schools. We used multilevel linear regression models to estimate the relationships…

Massachusetts faces challenges in preparing all students for lifelong success, with substantial disparities in both opportunities and outcomes. For instance, on the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress, less than 30 percent of black and Latino fourth graders in Massachusetts demonstrated proficiency in reading, compared to 60 percent…

In this executive summary, the Rennie Center reexamines the current way of doing business, looking at how educators can incorporate student voice into decision-making processes in order to help all learners construct a pathway to success in college, careers, and life. Massachusetts faces challenges in preparing all students for lifelong success,…

Dynamic and responsive methods enable teachers to assess students' writing skills precisely and equitably, and to empower students of diverse skill levels to develop their writing. Assessing writing with equity-minded precision requires paying close attention to students' performances as writers, identifying challenges in those performances, and…

Researchers have found that middle school students undergo developmental changes that require unique educational structures and support. As a result, experts have suggested a number of specific strategies for organizing middle schools in order to best meet students' needs. This Information Capsule summarizes middle school redesign initiatives that…