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...

This working paper examines the sensitivity and precision of teacher value-added model (VAM) estimates obtained under model specifications that differ based on whether they include student-level background characteristics, peer-level background characteristics, and/or a double-lagged achievement...

To improve labor market outcomes of people with disabilities, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Immediately following enactment, the wages of people with disabilities decreased, but longer-term wage consequences have not been studied. Using data from the March...

This working paper used measurements of accelerometer-based and self-reported physical activity from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2006 to develop and validate a set of models for predicting objective moderate to vigorous physical activity from self-report...

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 brief summarizes the current knowledge base and identifies key areas for future research related to human services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. It focuses on three types of services funded by the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S....

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 patients surveyed after primary care provider visits, this working paper found patients had favorable perceptions of electronic health records (EHRs). Patients believed that EHRs improved the quality of care, and most were not concerned with confidentiality of records. Adopters'...