Academic Achievement/Inequality
- Helen Ladd, professor emerita of public policy and economics. Specializes in charter schools, school-based accountability, market-based reforms, parental choice and competition, teacher quality, student achievement, racial segregation. helen.ladd@duke.edu
- Clara Muschkin, associate research professor of public policy and faculty director of the North Carolina Education Research Data Center. Research focuses on the impact of early education policies on student outcomes; the impact of grade configuration on student behavior; special education placements, peer influence in schools, and poverty and inequality. (919) 613-9302; muschkin@duke.edu
- Kristen R. Stephens, assistant professor of the practice of education. Specializes in gifted child education and No Child Left Behind issues. Serves on the board of directors for the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented and the National Association for Gifted Children. (919) 660-3083; kstephen@duke.edu
Afterschool Programs
- Harris Cooper, professor emeritus of Psychology & Neuroscience. Researches the value of homework, making the most of summer school, the value of after-school programs and the impact of school calendars and calendar variations on students and their families. (919) 660-5664; cooperh@duke.edu
Childhood Well-Being/School Violence
- Kenneth A. Dodge, professor of public policy, psychology and neuroscience; faculty affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy. Specializes in child abuse and neglect, behavior disorders and adolescent development. (919) 613-7864; dodge@duke.edu
- Christina Gibson Davis, associate professor of public policy and sociology; director of undergraduate studies, Sanford School of Public Policy; faculty affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy. Research focuses on social and economic differences in family formation patterns and how family structure affects children’s academic achievement. (919) 613-7364; cgibson@duke.edu
- Anna Gassman-Pines, associate professor of public policy, psychology and neuroscience; faculty affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy. Studies low-wage work, family life and the effects of welfare and employment policy on child and maternal well-being. Research interests include the effects of job loss on children’s test scores. (919) 613-7301; agassman.pines@duke.edu
- Beth Gifford, associate research professor of public policy; serves as an Early Childhood Policy Fellow with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Gifford’s primary research interests involve evaluating programs and policies that are designed to improve outcomes for vulnerable children. (919) 613-9294; beth.gifford@duke.edu
- David Rabiner, research professor of Psychology & Neuroscience. Research focuses on violence prevention for middle school students and the impact of attention problems on student achievement. (919) 668-6917 or (919) 660-5720; drabiner@duke.edu
- Katie Rosanbalm, senior research scientist at the Center for Child and Family Policy. Research focuses on program implementation and evaluation in the areas of early childhood systems, self-regulation development, child welfare, and trauma-sensitive schools. (919) 668-3294; katie.rosanbalm@duke.edu
English Language Learners
- Leslie Babinski, associate research professor of public policy and associate director of the Center for Child and Family Policy. Research focuses on teacher professional development and language and literacy instruction for English language learners. (919) 613-9296; leslie.babinski@duke.edu
Gifted Students
- Kristen R. Stephens, assistant professor of the practice of education. Specializes in legal and policy issues related to gifted education and how such policies contribute affect underserved gifted students. Other research interests include education reform, curriculum development and teacher preparation. (919) 660-3083; kstephen@duke.edu
Homework
- Harris Cooper, professor emeritus of psychology and neuroscience. Researches the value of homework, making the most of summer school, the value of after-school programs, and the impact of school calendars and calendar variations on students and their families. (919) 660-5664; cooperh@duke.edu
Public School Segregation/Lotteries
- Charles Clotfelter, professor of public policy, economics and law. Specializes in school desegregation, accountability, achievement, education finance, and lotteries. (919) 613-7361; charles.clotfelter@duke.edu
Racial Achievement Gap
- William “Sandy” Darity Jr., professor of public policy, African and African-American studies, and economics. Research focuses on inequality by race, class and ethnicity, education achievement gap, employment and reparations, among other topics. (919) 613-7336; darity@unc.edu
School Policy
- Helen Ladd, professor emerita of public policy and economics. Specializes in charter schools, school-based accountability, market-based reforms, parental choice and competition, teacher quality, racial segregation. helen.ladd@duke.edu
- Clara Muschkin, associate research professor of public policy and faculty director of the North Carolina Education Research Data Center. Research focuses on the impact of early education policies on student outcomes; the impact of grade configuration on student behavior; special education placements, peer influence in schools, and poverty and inequality. (919) 613-9302; muschkin@duke.edu
School Vouchers/Charter Schools
- Thomas Nechyba, professor of economics. Research focuses on public economics, with particular focus on primary and secondary education. Projects include the economics of school choice, and the effect of family and community resources on education outcomes. (919)-660-1815; nechyba@econ.duke.edu
- Helen Ladd, professor emeritus of public policy and economics. Specializes in charter schools, school-based accountability, market-based reforms, parental choice and competition, teacher quality, student achievement. (919) 613-7352; helen.ladd@duke.edu
Summer School
- Harris Cooper, professor of psychology and neuroscience. Researches the value of homework, making the most of summer school, the value of after-school programs, and the impact of school calendars and calendar variations on students and their families. (919) 660-5664, cooperh@duke.edu
Teacher Preparation/Retention
- Kristen R. Stephens, assistant professor of the practice of education. Specializes in legal and policy issues related to gifted education and how such policies contribute affect underserved gifted students. Other research interests include education reform, curriculum development and teacher preparation. (919) 660-3083; kstephen@duke.edu
Testing
- Charles Clotfelter, professor of public policy, economics and law. Specializes in school desegregation, accountability, achievement, education finance and lotteries. (919) 613-7361; charles.clotfelter@duke.edu
Truancy
- Phil Cook, professor emeritus of public policy, economics and sociology; faculty fellow of the Center for Child and Family Policy. Specializes in truancy prevention, crime prevention and gun violence. (919) 613-7360; pcook@duke.edu