Common Cents: The Benefits of Expanding Head Start

January 12th, 2016 - Mikia Manley

New research indicates that Head Start offers a substantial benefit for students who are least likely to enroll and yields a significant financial gain for the government. More »

Messages to Parents Can Help Low-Performing Students

January 6th, 2016 - Shilin Liu

Weekly, direct messages from teachers to parents significantly reduce low-performing students' risk of not earning course credit. More »

Mindfulness in the Classroom: Meeting Children’s Socioemotional Needs

January 1st, 2016 - Thelma Armendariz-Villarreal

Evidence suggests that children exposed to social and emotional learning programs with mindfulness practices show significant improvements in executive functions, well-being, social behavior, and academic performance. More »

Behaviorally Informed Interventions Show Promise in Increasing Parental Engagement

December 1st, 2015 - Effee Coello

Despite their best intentions, low-income parents often fall behind on important educational goals, such as reading regularly to their children, because of more immediate concerns. New research from the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab at the University o... More »

A Better Old Age: How Income Can Improve Later-Life Mental Health

November 20th, 2015 - Adelaida Correa Miranda

Researchers show that an increase in Social Security income can significantly improve the elderly’s cognitive functions. More »

Testing the Impact of Non-cognitive Skills on Children’s Future Success

November 17th, 2015 - Amani Abou Harb

By studying the impact of the introduction of a universal child care program in Quebec, Baker et al. argue that shocks to the development of children’s non-cognitive skills lead to worse health, higher crime rates, and lower life satisfaction in the long run. ... More »

ABC, It’s as Easy as 1 2 3: Parents as Early Teachers

November 3rd, 2015 - Mikia Manley

New research shows that parental incentives for child development can yield large gains in both cognitive and non-cognitive domains for young children. More »

The Nip and Tuck of the Illinois Budget: Cuts to Children and Families

October 13th, 2015 - Leila Pree

Budget cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program continue to wreak havoc on the children and families of Illinois. More »

Mommy and Me: The Impact of Paid Family Leave on Breastfeeding

September 29th, 2015 - Mikia Manley

Researchers examine the impact of a new paid family leave policy in California on rates of breastfeeding. More »

Stuck in the System: Which Youths Are Most Likely to Be Rearrested as Adults?

September 1st, 2015 - Emily Feldhake

A current study explores the likelihood that juveniles in the criminal justice system will be rearrested as adults. Researchers find that variables influencing these outcomes differ across gender. More »

Mothers Behind Bars and the Children Who Suffer

August 27th, 2015 - Mikia Manley

Researchers examine the prevalence of mental health needs among children of incarcerated mothers and determine that many of them do not have access to necessary services. More »

What factors contribute to success in the classroom for English Language Learners?

August 11th, 2015 - Emily Feldhake

A recent study finds that behavioral and relational engagement together may impact academic success for immigrants with limited English proficiency. More »

Education and Family