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Making the Most of School Vacation: A Field Experiment of Small Group Math Instruction

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Title: Making the Most of School Vacation: A Field Experiment of Small Group Math Instruction
Language: English
Authors: Schueler, Beth E.
Source: Education Finance and Policy. Spr 2020 15(2):310-331.
Availability: MIT Press. 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. Tel: 617-253-2889; Fax: 617-253-1709; e-mail: journals-rights@mit.edu; Web site: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/edfp
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2020
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 6
Intermediate Grades
Middle Schools
Grade 7
Junior High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: At Risk Students, Grade 6, Grade 7, Mathematics Instruction, Middle School Students, Mathematics Achievement, Program Effectiveness, Language Arts, Academic Achievement, Reading Achievement, Vacation Programs, Small Group Instruction
Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
DOI: 10.1162/edfp_a_00269
ISSN: 1557-3060
Abstract: Catching students up who have fallen behind academically is a key challenge for educators, and can be difficult to do in a cost-effective manner. This field experiment examines the causal effect of a program designed to provide struggling sixth and seventh graders with math instruction delivered in small groups of roughly ten students by select teachers over weeklong vacation breaks. The program was implemented in a set of low-performing Massachusetts middle schools undergoing turnaround reforms. Attendance at these "Vacation Academies" increased the probability that students scored proficient or higher on Common Core-aligned math exams by 10 percentage points and reduced students' exposure to exclusionary discipline by decreasing out-of-school suspensions post-Academy. I find suggestive evidence of positive spillover effects on English Language Arts achievement and end-of-course grades in math and reading. Participants assigned to a single primary teacher for the entire week saw larger reductions in out-of-school suspensions than did students who rotated through teachers specializing in particular lessons. However, teacher specialization was associated with greater test score gains, suggesting a trade-off in outcomes depending on program design. Overall, the program's low cost and lack of a highly competitive teacher selection process make it a scalable approach to individualizing instruction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2020
Accession Number: EJ1250168
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Making the Most of School Vacation: A Field Experiment of Small Group Math Instruction
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  Data: MIT Press. 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. Tel: 617-253-2889; Fax: 617-253-1709; e-mail: journals-rights@mit.edu; Web site: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/edfp
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  Data: 22
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Massachusetts%22">Massachusetts</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1162/edfp_a_00269
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  Data: 1557-3060
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Catching students up who have fallen behind academically is a key challenge for educators, and can be difficult to do in a cost-effective manner. This field experiment examines the causal effect of a program designed to provide struggling sixth and seventh graders with math instruction delivered in small groups of roughly ten students by select teachers over weeklong vacation breaks. The program was implemented in a set of low-performing Massachusetts middle schools undergoing turnaround reforms. Attendance at these "Vacation Academies" increased the probability that students scored proficient or higher on Common Core-aligned math exams by 10 percentage points and reduced students' exposure to exclusionary discipline by decreasing out-of-school suspensions post-Academy. I find suggestive evidence of positive spillover effects on English Language Arts achievement and end-of-course grades in math and reading. Participants assigned to a single primary teacher for the entire week saw larger reductions in out-of-school suspensions than did students who rotated through teachers specializing in particular lessons. However, teacher specialization was associated with greater test score gains, suggesting a trade-off in outcomes depending on program design. Overall, the program's low cost and lack of a highly competitive teacher selection process make it a scalable approach to individualizing instruction.
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  Data: 2020
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        Value: 10.1162/edfp_a_00269
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: At Risk Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 6
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Achievement
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      – SubjectFull: Language Arts
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
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      – SubjectFull: Reading Achievement
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      – SubjectFull: Vacation Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Small Group Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Massachusetts
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      – TitleFull: Making the Most of School Vacation: A Field Experiment of Small Group Math Instruction
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