Tom Swiderski
@tswid.bsky.social
Researcher at the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina (EPIC) at UNC studying how to improve high school to college & career transitions. Current work: COVID recovery, absenteeism, CTE/career skills, & teacher prep. Web: tswiderski.web.unc.edu
I'm excited to share a new report, "The (Work)Keys to Success: Do ACT WorkKeys Scores Predict College and Early Career Outcomes?" in which my co-authors and I examine how students' WorkKeys scores, ACT scores, and GPAs relate to their college and early-career outcomes.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu
August 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
I'm excited to share a new report, "The (Work)Keys to Success: Do ACT WorkKeys Scores Predict College and Early Career Outcomes?" in which my co-authors and I examine how students' WorkKeys scores, ACT scores, and GPAs relate to their college and early-career outcomes.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
ICYMI!
New pub in EFP! Using NLSY + ONET, we compare mid-career job characteristics of 2-year vs 4-year college starters, examining not only their wages but also their job's sector, skill, & ed requirements, deepening insight into how college level shapes job & life course pathways. doi.org/10.1162/EDFP...
May 5, 2026 at 11:44 AM
ICYMI!
New pub in EFP! Using NLSY + ONET, we compare mid-career job characteristics of 2-year vs 4-year college starters, examining not only their wages but also their job's sector, skill, & ed requirements, deepening insight into how college level shapes job & life course pathways. doi.org/10.1162/EDFP...
May 2, 2026 at 12:31 PM
New pub in EFP! Using NLSY + ONET, we compare mid-career job characteristics of 2-year vs 4-year college starters, examining not only their wages but also their job's sector, skill, & ed requirements, deepening insight into how college level shapes job & life course pathways. doi.org/10.1162/EDFP...
Back from AEFP and looking for some more new research to dig into? Check out my latest study (led by @kevincbastian.bsky.social) examining factors that predict whether student teaching placements occur with highly effective teachers!
Open-access at JTE: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Open-access at JTE: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
March 24, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Back from AEFP and looking for some more new research to dig into? Check out my latest study (led by @kevincbastian.bsky.social) examining factors that predict whether student teaching placements occur with highly effective teachers!
Open-access at JTE: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Open-access at JTE: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
ICYMI - check out this new mixed methods research brief from my team on absenteeism through the 2024-25 school year!
Excited to share a new research brief on absenteeism in NC through 2024-25! This mixed methods work shows that absence rates did not change much between '23-24 and '24-25, and describes key possible reasons why based on interviews with educators, parents, and students.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
March 13, 2026 at 12:32 PM
ICYMI - check out this new mixed methods research brief from my team on absenteeism through the 2024-25 school year!
Excited to share a new research brief on absenteeism in NC through 2024-25! This mixed methods work shows that absence rates did not change much between '23-24 and '24-25, and describes key possible reasons why based on interviews with educators, parents, and students.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
March 12, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Excited to share a new research brief on absenteeism in NC through 2024-25! This mixed methods work shows that absence rates did not change much between '23-24 and '24-25, and describes key possible reasons why based on interviews with educators, parents, and students.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
The moment many of us in #edresearch have been waiting for...
Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences has been released.
ies.ed.gov/ies/2026/02/...
Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences has been released.
ies.ed.gov/ies/2026/02/...
ies.ed.gov
February 27, 2026 at 5:28 PM
The moment many of us in #edresearch have been waiting for...
Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences has been released.
ies.ed.gov/ies/2026/02/...
Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences has been released.
ies.ed.gov/ies/2026/02/...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
Now posted on @annenberginstitute.bsky.social EdWorkingPapers: What are schools doing to improve attendance?
Based on school leader surveys in MI and GA, we describe the prevalence of various attendance practices and organizational systems. We find little variation, both between and within states.
Based on school leader surveys in MI and GA, we describe the prevalence of various attendance practices and organizational systems. We find little variation, both between and within states.
January 26, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Now posted on @annenberginstitute.bsky.social EdWorkingPapers: What are schools doing to improve attendance?
Based on school leader surveys in MI and GA, we describe the prevalence of various attendance practices and organizational systems. We find little variation, both between and within states.
Based on school leader surveys in MI and GA, we describe the prevalence of various attendance practices and organizational systems. We find little variation, both between and within states.
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
Curious about what people said in response to the RFI about "re-imagining" the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)? I put the public comments in one file (763 pages) and used AI to analyze the themes and areas of agreement and disagreement (5 pages) by audience ⬇️: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Loading Google Docs
Web word processing, presentations and spreadsheets
docs.google.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Curious about what people said in response to the RFI about "re-imagining" the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)? I put the public comments in one file (763 pages) and used AI to analyze the themes and areas of agreement and disagreement (5 pages) by audience ⬇️: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Hi all, sharing that my org has put online 7(!) research reports conducted in the past 2 years in our partnered evaluation of GEAR UP NC. Topics relate to implementation & usage of services, effects of those services, and sustainability of services past the grant period. epic.unc.edu/publications...
Publications Database | Education Policy Initiative at Carolina
epic.unc.edu
January 9, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Hi all, sharing that my org has put online 7(!) research reports conducted in the past 2 years in our partnered evaluation of GEAR UP NC. Topics relate to implementation & usage of services, effects of those services, and sustainability of services past the grant period. epic.unc.edu/publications...
Happy to share a new brief from our study of the WorkKeys in NC looking at exam participation & performance! A key takeaway: Students' WK & ACT scores are highly correlated, raising Qs about the extent to which these tests provide different info about students' skills.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
December 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Happy to share a new brief from our study of the WorkKeys in NC looking at exam participation & performance! A key takeaway: Students' WK & ACT scores are highly correlated, raising Qs about the extent to which these tests provide different info about students' skills.
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
Recently I shared a new pub from me & colleagues on student absenteeism. To accompany this, we've also produced a one-pager to share key takeaways in brief!
Article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
One-pager: epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
@sarahcfuller.bsky.social @kevincbastian.bsky.social
Article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
One-pager: epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
@sarahcfuller.bsky.social @kevincbastian.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Recently I shared a new pub from me & colleagues on student absenteeism. To accompany this, we've also produced a one-pager to share key takeaways in brief!
Article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
One-pager: epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
@sarahcfuller.bsky.social @kevincbastian.bsky.social
Article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
One-pager: epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
@sarahcfuller.bsky.social @kevincbastian.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
We are so excited to be able to offer a limited number of subsidies to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as school district personnel, to present at NCARE 2026 thanks to our generous sponsors. Proposals are due November 7th: ncafrie.wildapricot.org/conference-i...
Conference Call for Proposals
ncafrie.wildapricot.org
September 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
We are so excited to be able to offer a limited number of subsidies to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as school district personnel, to present at NCARE 2026 thanks to our generous sponsors. Proposals are due November 7th: ncafrie.wildapricot.org/conference-i...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
NEW from me and Amie Rapaport at @futureedgu.bsky.social: New Parent Research Helps Explain Causes of Post-Pandemic Absenteeism Crisis // www.future-ed.org/new-parent-r...
New Parent Research Helps Explain Causes of Post-Pandemic Absenteeism Crisis
Though chronic absenteeism has declined from its post-COVID peak, too many students are still missing too much school. Research shows that absent students fall behind academically and are more likely…
www.future-ed.org
September 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
NEW from me and Amie Rapaport at @futureedgu.bsky.social: New Parent Research Helps Explain Causes of Post-Pandemic Absenteeism Crisis // www.future-ed.org/new-parent-r...
New paper! Using data from NC, we estimate that getting attendance rates back to pre-pandemic levels in 2023-24 could have improved state math achievement by 0.017-0.025 SDs in this year, or 13-19% of what would be needed for a full academic recovery. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
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journals.sagepub.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
New paper! Using data from NC, we estimate that getting attendance rates back to pre-pandemic levels in 2023-24 could have improved state math achievement by 0.017-0.025 SDs in this year, or 13-19% of what would be needed for a full academic recovery. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
Here’s a new perspective piece at EdNC focused on full time principal internships in NC. Good news is that the state has decided to fund them for the 2025-26 year! But the issue—questions about the importance of the internship and funding for it—will still be there. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Perspective | Maintaining North Carolina’s excellence in principal preparation
Without a state budget, future principals in North Carolina face a limited internship opportunity — three months instead of 10.
www.ednc.org
September 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Here’s a new perspective piece at EdNC focused on full time principal internships in NC. Good news is that the state has decided to fund them for the 2025-26 year! But the issue—questions about the importance of the internship and funding for it—will still be there. www.ednc.org/perspective-...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
📢 Job Posting! 📢 We are hiring TWO postdocs at Detroit PEER at Wayne State (detroitpeer.org)! We are looking for one quant/mixed methods expert and one qual/mixed expert to work with me & @jeremylsinger.bsky.social on attendance research. Apply by Oct. 10, but flexible on start date! Please share!
Detroit PEER Postdoc Job Description 2025.pdf
drive.google.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM
📢 Job Posting! 📢 We are hiring TWO postdocs at Detroit PEER at Wayne State (detroitpeer.org)! We are looking for one quant/mixed methods expert and one qual/mixed expert to work with me & @jeremylsinger.bsky.social on attendance research. Apply by Oct. 10, but flexible on start date! Please share!
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
NEW: We conducted a survey of all school leaders in Michigan in 2024-25 about their attendance strategies. Our report offers the most comprehensive evidence thus far of what schools are actively doing to reduce chronic absenteeism. @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social
detroitpeer.org/wp-content/u...
detroitpeer.org/wp-content/u...
August 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NEW: We conducted a survey of all school leaders in Michigan in 2024-25 about their attendance strategies. Our report offers the most comprehensive evidence thus far of what schools are actively doing to reduce chronic absenteeism. @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social
detroitpeer.org/wp-content/u...
detroitpeer.org/wp-content/u...
My study on ACT/SAT test requirements has been issued at EEPA! Using time-varying DID, I found that requiring 11th graders to take the ACT or SAT had small to null effects on postsec outcomes, with some variation btw effects on students vs states' institutions. journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3...
August 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My study on ACT/SAT test requirements has been issued at EEPA! Using time-varying DID, I found that requiring 11th graders to take the ACT or SAT had small to null effects on postsec outcomes, with some variation btw effects on students vs states' institutions. journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Research Area Specialist Associate | U-M Careers
careers.umich.edu
May 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
New pub (open-access)! School absence rates have been above pre-pandemic levels for multiple years. We show how this is adding up for students over time, revealing that some students are experiencing especially deep and persistent levels of absenteeism. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
February 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
New pub (open-access)! School absence rates have been above pre-pandemic levels for multiple years. We show how this is adding up for students over time, revealing that some students are experiencing especially deep and persistent levels of absenteeism. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
New results from "The Nation's Report Card" just dropped and they are pretty bad. I got a sneak peek as a member of IES’s Standing Committee, so I had an extra day or so to ruminate about them. A few thoughts 👇
1/n
1/n
January 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
New results from "The Nation's Report Card" just dropped and they are pretty bad. I got a sneak peek as a member of IES’s Standing Committee, so I had an extra day or so to ruminate about them. A few thoughts 👇
1/n
1/n
Out today! I wrote an op-ed for EdNC reflecting on learning recovery. I suggest that the multiple other challenges schools face (attendance, mental health, teacher burn-out) undercut recovery efforts, & offer some ideas about what that means we should do moving forward. www.ednc.org/learning-los...
Perspective | Learning loss is still with us. Where do we go from here?
OPTION 1: "When students are experiencing depression, anxiety, burn-out, and chronic absenteeism, they will not learn as much. When educators are burnt out and spending more time on behavioral managem...
www.ednc.org
January 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Out today! I wrote an op-ed for EdNC reflecting on learning recovery. I suggest that the multiple other challenges schools face (attendance, mental health, teacher burn-out) undercut recovery efforts, & offer some ideas about what that means we should do moving forward. www.ednc.org/learning-los...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
Come join my data team! We are hiring another Strategic Research Fellow! (Or two)
It’s a great opportunity for an early career researcher with an interest in higher ed policy.
Priority deadline is Feb 7, more details below.
northcarolina.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
It’s a great opportunity for an early career researcher with an interest in higher ed policy.
Priority deadline is Feb 7, more details below.
northcarolina.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Strategic Research Fellow
The University of North Carolina System Office is accepting applications for the position of Strategic Research
Fellow. The primary goal of the posit...
northcarolina.csod.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Come join my data team! We are hiring another Strategic Research Fellow! (Or two)
It’s a great opportunity for an early career researcher with an interest in higher ed policy.
Priority deadline is Feb 7, more details below.
northcarolina.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
It’s a great opportunity for an early career researcher with an interest in higher ed policy.
Priority deadline is Feb 7, more details below.
northcarolina.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Reposted by Tom Swiderski
Excited to release, with coauthors Camille Mikkelsen and @sarahcfuller.bsky.social, a new research brief on NC’s support personnel workforce (counselors, social workers, school psychologists) through the pandemic epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
A few key findings:
A few key findings:
epic.unc.edu
January 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Excited to release, with coauthors Camille Mikkelsen and @sarahcfuller.bsky.social, a new research brief on NC’s support personnel workforce (counselors, social workers, school psychologists) through the pandemic epic.unc.edu/wp-content/u...
A few key findings:
A few key findings: