Brian A. Jacob

This project explored how taking virtual (online) courses in high school affects students' course progression and academic achievement. Online courses are widely used, but policymakers have little rigorous evidence on whether online courses promote student achievement. Some states, such as Florida, require all students to take at least one online course prior to graduation. This project used data from Florida to examine the use of online courses, potential effects of online courses on studen...

The purpose of this project is to identify the relationship between career and technical education (CTE) participation and key long-term outcomes like employment, earnings, college enrollment, and college completion. At the same time as poverty and inequality are becoming entrenched in society, college completion rates have stagnated and far too many students never reap the benefits associated with higher education. As a result, high school CTE programs have recently risen in popularity amon...

The purpose of this project is to assess the implementation, impact, and cost of the Michigan "Read by Grade 3" law which is intended to increase early literacy outcomes for Michigan students.

The University of Michigan Postdoctoral Training Program in Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Methods for Education Research prepared five fellows to conduct education research relevant to NCER topic areas Early Learning Programs and Policies, English Learners, Literacy, Improving Education Systems, and Postsecondary and Adult Education. The fellows received training in research methods that would meet the methodological standards of an IES Exploration, Initial Efficacy, Effectiveness, or ...

The Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment (CAPSEE) conducts research and provides national leadership (in cooperation with IES) in order to advance knowledge regarding the link between postsecondary education and the labor market. The Center aims to clarify this link with attention to three key topics: (1) relatively short-term occupational degrees (occupational associate degrees and certificates or diplomas) that are designed to improve labor market outcomes; (2) th...