And, as kids get older, there may be value in nudging parents gently to the side of the conversation. An elegant 2013 study arranged for cohorts of sixth- and ninth-grade students to receive daily notes or texts from their teacher, who also made daily phone calls to the students’ parents. The regular check-ins caused higher rates of completed, on-time homework assignments and lower rates of disruptive behavior.

“I think that that report shows that, on average, the state takeover efforts aren’t so successful,” said John Papay, director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. “They don’t lead to dramatic changes in student outcomes.”

At a participatory budgeting event facilitated by scholars at Brown, more than 100 local middle school students debated how the Providence Public School District should spend $100,000 in funds from the University.

Middle school can be tough: new social circles, new teachers, new hormones. Many adults look back ruefully on those years, wishing they could have improved the experience.

On Thursday, June 8, 120 eighth-grade students from Providence’s Nathanael Greene Middle School got the chance to do just that.

Papay has served as interim director since January. In taking on the role for the longer term, he will continue to position the Annenberg Institute to serve as a hub of education scholarship that confronts some of the most pressing issues in teaching and learning, including opportunity gaps and learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. By creating a broader set of opportunities for engagement and learning for students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers, scholars and practitioners across campus and beyond, Papay plans to expand the institute's robust set of collaborative research projects, generating insights that can be directly applied to teaching practices and education policy.

Research shows summer matters for kids. Studies by Rand and the Annenberg Institute found that high-quality summer learning programs can result in meaningful academic benefits, particularly in math, and can help students better connect with their schools and peers. In the face of historic declines in math scores and declines in reading, children need this summertime boost now more than ever.

According to a March 15 report from Brown’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform, the Providence Public School District continues to face growing teacher attrition — a challenge since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, part of the Annenberg Institute’s ongoing partnership with PPSD and the Rhode Island Department of Education, also detailed the district’s struggles to attract new applicants and increase diversity among educators.

The Institute for Learning at the University of Pittsburgh is proud to announce that it has become a Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RRPL) affiliate in the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. The partnership will allow the Institute for Learning to work with other RPPL affiliates to advance the usable evidence on teacher learning and improve educational equity for all students.

“I myself was a first-generation student and my vision of college was what I saw on TV or in the movies growing up and I never really saw myself fitting into that life so are we hope that by offering them this experience it’ll help them feel welcome that they belong on College campuses,” said Soljane Martinez. Education Coordinator, the Annenberg Institute, Brown University

College Day at Brown, organized by leaders at the University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform and Office of the President, gives Providence-area high schoolers a glimpse into everyday life at college. The immersive day of events takes young students across College Hill to explore Brown’s multitude of classes, athletic programs and community engagement opportunities, and to interact one-on-one with Brown students, staff and faculty. 

A new study from Brown University is shedding light on teacher retention and staffing challenges in Providence schools.

The report shows that teaching vacancies in Providence public schools remain high and it’s been harder to hang onto teachers since the pandemic.

However, they say the overall story is more mixed.

An Annenberg Institute analysis shows PPSD has struggled to attract and retain teachers. Are bonuses helping?

The Providence Public School District is still struggling to attract enough applicants and retain them, with interest limited in jobs serving high-needs students, a new Brown University report shows.