Before starting her Urban Education Policy master’s, Abby McClain never took a college-level statistics or data course. Her coursework and internship in the Providence Public School District (PPSD) Operations Department allowed her to step outside her comfort zone and gain familiarity with quantitative methods.
“I was seeking an internship that would allow me to expand my knowledge and skills in data analysis,” Abby said. “The UEP program was my first experience conducting quantitative analysis. I was fascinated by how data can be used to explore and address questions and problems within education.”
Abby developed her quantitative skills while exploring potential disparities in the PPSD school choice lottery through her capstone titled “Chance versus Choice: A Data Analysis of the Outcomes of Providence Schools’ Student Placement Policies.” Upon entering sixth and ninth grade, Providence students may enter a lottery, ranking their preferences of which public school to attend. According to the 2024 data Abby cleaned and organized, 28% of incoming 6th graders and 30% of incoming 9th graders did not participate in the lottery. Further analysis found that students who did not participate were often placed at the least selected schools, demonstrating inequities in placement and access.
“To improve participation rates, I suggested prioritizing transparency in the school choice process, providing non-conditional access regardless of disability status, and offering multilingual and accessible formats for participation,” Abby said.
Abby’s work will have a lasting impact on PPSD school placement. Her analysis created a framework for future quantitative and qualitative research. The Operations Department plans to run the same analysis with data from next school year to assess the impacts of the suggested recommendations. The department will also engage in community outreach to supplement this research with greater qualitative input.
Abby was supported by supervisor Mara Harwel AM’22 and her classmates in the UEP cohort throughout her internship. She stressed the importance of their feedback and encouragement as she stepped outside her comfort zone and embraced quantitative research.
“Throughout the program and my internship, I have learned a tremendous amount, inspiring me to further explore the impact of district and state-level educational initiatives,” Abby said. “While I intend to further my work as a teacher, I know my journey won’t end there. The UEP program has empowered me to dream big.”
Favorites:
- Memory: "The capstone conference where UEP AM students shared their capstone projects."
- Event: "I enjoyed celebrating with the cohort, friends, and professors at the Education Department Graduation Ceremony."
- Place to study: "The Education Department, especially with classmates."
- Place to eat near campus: "East Side Pockets."