The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute

The Education Recovery Scorecard, a data-rich deep dive into student learning, found that U.S. students were still nearly half a grade level behind in both math and reading in the spring of 2024, compared with achievement levels before the pandemic. Learn about this finding and more from NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/11/nx-s1-5291451/us-reading-math-scores-solutions #:~:text=U.S.%20students%20are%20still%20nearly,reading%20from%202022%20to%202024.

A new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 finds that, while there is some common ground, many of the problems and pressure points teens are dealing with differ significantly for boys and girls. In addition, many teens see imbalances in how boys and girls are experiencing school and how they’re performing academically. Learn more. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2025/03/13/the-gender-gap-in-teen-experiences/ #:~:text=Academics%20are%20the%20biggest%20source,71%25%20vs.%2065%25).

Dominique McKoy, Executive Director of the UChicago To&Through Project, will be part of a panel discussion hosted by A Better Chicago on Wednesday, April 2, from 4 to 6:30pm CDT. This special event explores the latest data trends and insights that shed light on what it means to be a young person living in Chicago.

Hear from experts in the field about strategies for uplifting and empowering young people across the city. Moderated by WBEZ's Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons, the wide-ranging conversation will highlight key findings on educational attainment, absenteeism rates, youth homelessness, mental health challenges, and more. Learn more.

State of Our Youth Join A Better Chicago for a special event exploring the latest data trends and insights that shed light on how youth are faring in Chicago.

What insights and improvements are possible when school systems and research partners collaborate? Hear from UChicago Consortium's Elaine Allensworth, UChicago To&Through's Dom McKoy, Chicago Public Schools leaders, and research partners about bright spots and opportunities in evidence-informed strategy, practice, and policy in schools and the education ecosystem in this recorded discussion on Improving Education with Evidence. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/resources/improving-education-with-evidence-research-partners-and-chicago-public-schools

After an extensive national search, Paige Ponder has been named the Senior Executive Director for the Urban Education Institute (UEI) at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Learn more about our new leader: https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/news-events/all-news/crown-family-school-welcomes-new-senior-executive-director #:~:text=It%20is%20with%20pleasure%20we,%2C%20effective%20February%2017%2C%202025.

Teacher morale improved in 2024-25, according to the EdWeek Research Center. Learn more about why.

Teacher Morale Is on the Upswing. Will It Last? Education Week recorded a jump in teacher morale. What factors explain the upswing?

Immigration arrests at school: How likely are they? Chalkbeat asked experts what to expect.

ICE can raid schools. Politics and legal nuances make it hard, immigration experts say. It can be difficult for federal law enforcement officers to get the correct warrant to enter a school. And images of ICE inside schools upsetting children could be politically damaging, experts said.

The UChicago Consortium has released a NEW FAMILY PLAYBOOK that offers key info, data and research to help parents & caregivers make informed decisions and take action on important topics. Research shows that grades and attendance from pre-K—12th grade are the most important ingredients for students’ success in and after high school. Parents and families can understand if and how their school is helping students have high attendance and grades—and can provide their own support, too, by reading the playbook. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/family-playbook-how-can-we-understand-students-progress-in-school

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the UChicago To&Through Data Collaborative on April 22 with the UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab who will present on research about the impact of the Star Scholarship at the City Colleges of Chicago. Learn more and RSVP.

April Data Collaborative - UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab The UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab will present on research about the impact of the Star Scholarship at the City Colleges of Chicago

What happened to student attendance in grades K-12 during the remote/hybrid school year (2020–21) and the two subsequent years (through 2022–23)? A NEW RESEARCH REPORT from the UChicago Consortium takes a look. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/student-experiences-through-the-COVID-19-pandemic