Dean Kaplan

Dean Kaplan

Research Analyst

Publications

Estimating the Effectiveness of Personalized Messages at Reducing Student Absences: Experimental Evidence from a Rural School Research Network

Published in Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, 2022

We evaluate an informational intervention aimed at reducing student absences in a rural setting using a multi-site, blocked randomized controlled trial. Eight rural districts participating in a Rural Research Network (RRN) implemented a personalized messaging intervention in the 2020-21 school year. Districts regularly sent messages (texts, emails, or calls) to caregivers of students in 1st through 12th grade, informing them of their student’s absence rate, setting a goal or providing a comparison point for their student’s absence rate, and offering support.

Recommended citation: Swanson E., Solowski K., Ash J., Kaplan D., Sanbonmatsu L., T D., Kane, TJ. (2022) Estimating the Effectiveness of Personalized Messages at Reducing Student Absences: Experimental Evidence from a Rural School Research Network. Presented paper at: Association for Public Policy and Analysis 2022 Fall Research Conference, Washington, DC. https://appam.confex.com/appam/2022/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/45247

Every Day Counts Everywhere: Examining Attendance Trends Across Urban, Suburban, Town, and Rural Districts

Published in Association for Education Finance and Policy 46th Annual Conference, 2019

Using a combination of descriptive and inferential methods, we analyze longitudinal student data from Ohio to answer the following questions about absenteeism and achievement: Does absenteeism have similar implications for academic outcomes in urban, suburban, town, and rural locales? Are daily attendance patterns similar across locales? Do some locales have more equitable attendance outcomes for special students than others? Do differences in attendance patterns across locales persist when controlling for student and school characteristics?

Recommended citation: Kaplan D., Kieninger K., Ash J., Sanbonmatsu L., Staiger D., Kane, TJ. (2021) Every Day Counts Everywhere: Examining Attendance Trends Across Urban, Suburban, Town, and Rural Districts. Presented paper at: Association for Education Finance and Policy 46th Annual Conference https://aefpweb.org/files/46th.pdf

Exploring the role of preschoolers’ interest and ability in number exploration during card game play with parents

Published in Bringing Cognitive Science Research to the Classroom National Conference, 2016

This poster explores how young children develop numeracy skills as they play card games with their parents.

Recommended citation: Zippert E, Schneider R, Kaplan D, Ramani GB. (2016). Exploring the role of preschoolers’ interest and ability in number exploration during card game play with parents. Presented Poster at: Bringing Cognitive Science Research to the Classroom National Conference; Arlington, VA.