Deputy State Superintendent; Standards, Accountability, and Research
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Research on Education Strategies to
Advance Recovery and Turnaround
North Carolina School Extension Programs
Assessing the Long-Term Impacts of School Extension Programs on Student Re-Engagement and Learning Recovery
About the Research Study
This project examines the effects of the pandemic on educational outcomes in North Carolina and the impact of school extension programs on school re-engagement and academic recovery. This work aims to increase student re-engagement in school and academic recovery by 1) examining the short, medium, and long-term effects of the pandemic on statewide trends in student outcomes—overall and by subgroup—during the 2020-21 to 2023-24 school years, 2) descriptively exploring variation in the implementation and design of school extension programs across a range of districts and charter schools, and 3) analyzing the impact of school extension programs on student re-engagement and academic recovery during the post-pandemic period across student subgroups by program type, dosage, and design features.
This project will provide evidence to support decision-making around the design and continuation of school extension activities and success in closing achievement gaps created or widened by the pandemic. The project will produce evidence to aid decision-making by identifying areas of continuing need and providing data on the effectiveness of school extension programs. The research team will summarize interim and final findings in 3 annual reports to state policymakers, 3-4 policy briefs, conference presentations, and 3-4 peer-reviewed publications.
About the Research Team
Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR), North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
The mission of the OLR is to serve PSUs by providing the research and support needed to make evidence-based decisions to combat learning loss and accelerate learning for all students. The OLR will interface with District and School Transformation and collaborate with each of the constituent units within DPI. The OLR partners with PSUs and other stakeholders to bring needed solutions to long-standing challenges facing NC public education.
Education Policy Initiative at Carolina (EPIC), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)
EPIC is an interdisciplinary team of researchers within the Department of Public Policy at UNC-CH. EPIC’s mission is to conduct rigorous and responsive education research and evaluation that informs practice and policy for the betterment of students, educators, schools, and communities. EPIC aims to engage in this work in close partnership with practitioners and policymakers to ensure high-quality and equitable learning opportunities for our nation’s youth.
Research Team Members
Research Associate Professor
Education Policy Initiative at Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Director of Research and Evaluation, Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Research Associate Professor, Education Policy Initiative at Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Professor, Department of Public Policy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill