Education, Labor, and Workforce Development Research

From remote learning to classroom equity to local workforce training initiatives, Pardee RAND students explore a wide range of education and labor policy issues. RAND research has examined educational systems and school-to-work pipelines for almost five decades. Students have coauthored research on topics from early childhood education to postsecondary education, as well as educator effectiveness, instructional technology, employment outcomes, and retirement.

Student-Faculty Research Collaborations

Through project-based research and other experiential learning opportunities, students work with faculty mentors to obtain professional skills and tacit knowledge that courses alone cannot convey. Here are a few recent projects and their resulting research.

  • Electricianas Mate 3rd Class Malachy Osikwemhe repairs a dimmer switch on the missile deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87). Mason is deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rob Aylward/U.S. Navy

    Developing Strategic Plans for Defense Human Resource Management

    Although leaders of many organizations appreciate the value of strategic planning, they wrestle with the principles that should be used to guide a planning process. Nathan Thompson (cohort '20) and Prof. Charles Goldman colleagues explore what principles should guide the development and implementation of strategic plans in defense human resource management organizations.

  • Two women firefighters in protective workwear, photo by xavierarnau/Getty Images

    Developing a Pipeline of Diverse Talent into the Public Sector

    Research by Luke Irwin (cohort '16) and Prof. Charles Goldman finds that public-sector agencies, schools, and community organizations could attract more diverse and talented workers by articulating leadership commitment to recruiting from underrepresented groups, communicating the benefits of public-sector careers, and improving awareness of jobs and internships.

  • Students hold signs inside the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda in opposition to bills Kentucky lawmakers say would eradicate critical race theory from state schools, January 12, 2022, photo by Alton Strupp/USA Today via Reuters

    Anti-Bias Education in U.S. Public Schools

    Teaching students explicitly about issues of identity, diversity, equity, and bias can lead to positive outcomes. Ashley Woo (cohort '18), Prof. Julia Kaufman, and RAND colleagues found that nearly three in four K–12 teachers reported that they provide such anti-bias instruction, but more than half said that their school's or district's curriculum materials did not adequately address anti-bias topics.

  • National Guard Specialist Austin Alt assists a student as he fills in as a substitute teacher due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 at Pojoaque Valley Middle School in Pojoaque, New Mexico, January 28, 2022, photo by Adria Malcolm/Reuters

    Challenges That May Be Getting in the Way of Student Learning

    Melissa Diliberti (cohort '19) and Prof. Heather Schwartz found that, as of November 2021, school district leaders' top three concerns were the mental health of students, teachers, and principals. And 74 percent of them said that political polarization about COVID-19 safety or vaccines was interfering with their ability to educate students.

Explore Pardee RAND student-authored research on Education, Labor, and Workforce Development »

Faculty Mentors

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Recent Dissertations

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