Nonexperimental methods, such as regression modeling or statistical matching, produce unbiased estimates if the underlying assumptions hold, but these assumptions are usually not testable. Most studies testing nonexperimental designs find that they fail to produce unbiased estimates, but these...

Using data from Mathematica's experimental evaluation of charter schools, this methodological study examines the validity of four different comparison group approaches to test whether these designs can replicate findings from a well-implemented random assignment study.

This working paper uses urban school district data to investigate whether including track indicators or accounting for classroom characteristics in the value-added model is sufficient to eliminate potential bias resulting from the sorting of students into academic tracks. Accounting for two...

Ideally, nonexperimental methods that aim to replicate the results of rigorous randomized experiments focus on the intent to treat (ITT) experimental impact estimate, the most causally rigorous measure. This working paper develops a new replication approach that facilitates testing...

This report describes the characteristics, service receipt, and short-term job outcomes of female customers leaving the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult and Dislocated Worker programs in 2009. It also assesses gender differences and local variation in service receipt and outcomes. Females...

This article examines whether availability of in-person professional interpreter services during emergency department visits affects satisfaction of limited English proficient patients and their health providers, using a randomized controlled trial.

Communication between patients and providers is critical in hospital emergency departments, but most interpretive services for non-English speakers—often provided via telephone or ad hoc by untrained bilingual staff or family member(s)—vary in quality. This issue brief identifies...

A new analysis from the National Study of Charter Management (CMO) Effectiveness provides the first systematic evidence available on the effects of CMOs on the critical long-term outcomes of high school graduation and college entry. The study shows that some—but not all—CMOs...

This article examines whether availability of in-person professional interpreter services during emergency department visits affects satisfaction of limited English proficient patients and their health providers, using a randomized controlled trial.