Abstinence Education

“Impacts of Abstinence Education on Teen Sexual Activity, Risk of Pregnancy, and Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” Christopher Trenholm, Barbara Devaney, Kenneth Fortson, Melissa Clark, Lisa Quay, and Justin Wheeler, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, March 2008. This paper examines the impacts of four abstinence-only education programs on adolescent sexual activity and risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Based on an experimental design, the impact analysis uses survey data collected in 2005 and early 2006 from more than 2,000 teens who had been randomly assigned to either a program group that was eligible to participate in one of the four programs or a control group that was not. The findings show no significant impact on teen sexual activity, no differences in rates of unprotected sex, and some impacts on knowledge of STDs and perceived effectiveness of condoms and birth control pills.

Methods Update

“The Truncation-by-Death Problem: What To Do in an Experimental Evaluation When the Outcome Is Not Always Defined.” Sheena McConnell, Elizabeth A. Stuart, and Barbara Devaney, Evaluation Review, April 2008. Although experiments are viewed as the gold standard for evaluation, some of their benefits may be lost when, as is common, outcomes are not defined for some sample members. In evaluations of marriage interventions, for example, a key outcome—relationship quality—is undefined when a couple splits up. This article shows how treatment-control differences in mean outcomes can be misleading when outcomes are not defined for everyone and discusses ways to identify the seriousness of the problem. Potential solutions to the problem are described, including approaches that rely on simple treatment-control differences-in-means as well as more complex modeling approaches.

What Works Clearinghouse

Two new What Works Clearinghouse reviews in the area of dropout prevention are available. Conducted by a team led by principal investigator Robert Wood, the reviews focus on interventions designed to help disadvantaged youth complete their education and prepare for work.

“What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report: JOBSTART.” An alternative education and training program, JOBSTART is designed to improve the economic prospects of young, disadvantaged high school dropouts. The WWC found this intervention to have potentially positive effects on completing school.

“What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report: Job Corps.” A program for economically disadvantaged youth, Job Corps offers remedial education, GED preparation, vocational training, job placement assistance, and other supports. The WWC found Job Corps to have no discernible effects on progressing in school and potentially positive effects on completing school.

Charter Schools

“Evaluating the Performance of Philadelphia’s Charter Schools.” Ron Zimmer, Suzanne Blanc, Brian Gill, and Jolley Christman, March 2008. Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate autonomously, outside the direct control of local school districts, and generally enroll students through the choices of their parents rather than through residential assignment. These schools have proved popular nationwide. The authors examine effects of charter schools on reading and mathematics achievement for students in Philadelphia. They also examine effects of years of operation, grades served, mission, and demographics on student achievement; types of students charter schools attract; turnover rates; and charter schools’ impact on student achievement in traditional public schools. Achievement gains of students attending charter schools are approximately equal to the gains of students attending district-operated public schools. There is little evidence that charter schools either help or harm the achievement of students in nearby district schools.

Children's Health

“Dynamics in Medicaid and SCHIP Eligibility Among Children in SCHIP's Early Years: Implications for Reauthorization.” Anna S. Sommers, Lisa Dubay, Linda J. Blumberg, Fredric E. Blavin, and John L. Czajka, Health Affairs, September/October 2007. Two-thirds of children in the United States were income eligible for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) at some point from 1996 to 2000. One in five were income eligible for both programs, and 73 percent of children ever eligible for SCHIP were eligible at other times for Medicaid. The authors note that as SCHIP is reauthorized, Congress will need to give states the tools and financial commitment to ensure that uninsured children are enrolled in and retain coverage for which they are eligible.