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Measuring Opportunity to Learn: Engaging Policy Through Research

Tue, April 12, 2:15 to 3:45pm, Convention Center, Floor: Level Three, Ballroom B

Abstract

The drive to measure achievement and achievement “gaps” has shaped U.S. education policy over the past two decades. Researchers widely conclude that achievement gaps are manifestations of opportunity gaps, but this understanding has been largely ineffective in influencing policy. In this article, we explore how researchers—working as public scholars—can develop a strong, comprehensive set of measures of educational opportunity and bring these measures to bear on current and future educational policy conversations. We profile one such effort, called the Opportunity to Learn Index, and detail challenges related to method and analysis that arise when designing research to more directly influence policy. These efforts, we conclude, will ask researchers to embrace unique challenges of engaging with non-researcher audiences.

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