Student Opinion Scale
Category: Student Learning
Abstract: Billions of dollars are invested in opt-in educational resources to support struggling students. Yet, there is no guarantee these students will use these resources. We report results from a school system’s implementation of on-demand tutoring. The take up was low. At baseline, only 19% of students ever accessed the platform and low-performing students were even less likely to log in. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (N=4,763) testing behaviorally-informed messages directed at students and/or their parents to increase participation. Communications to students alone had no impact, whereas those to parents and students together increased usage by 46%. Nonetheless, take-up remained low, highlighting that opt-in resources may increase—instead of reduce—inequality. Without targeted outreach, opt-in educational resources are unlikely to reach many students who could benefit.
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Citation
Document Object Identifier (DOI)
10.26300/ja2n-ys82
EdWorkingPaper suggested citation:
Robinson, Carly D., Biraj Bisht, and Susanna Loeb. (). The inequity of opt-in educational resources and an intervention to increase equitable access. (EdWorkingPaper: -654). Retrieved from
Annenberg Institute at Brown University: https://doi.org/10.26300/ja2n-ys82
