Paul Heaton

New Leaders is a nonprofit organization that partners with school districts to prepare and support principals. This report describes how the New Leaders program was implemented in partner districts, and it provides evidence of the effect that New Leaders has on student achievement.

Using data from 2007 through 2009, the authors tabulate the incidence and prevalence of recruiter irregularities. Exploring Army contract data, the authors compare the characteristics of those signing contracts at the end of the recruiting month--when recruiters are under the greatest pressure to meet their monthly recruiting quotas--with those signed earlier in the month.

To determine whether enlistment and reenlistment bonuses are effective in maintaining or increasing the supply of personnel to the armed forces, the authors provide an empirical analysis of bonuses' effects. They developed models to assess whether bonuses have contributed to recruiting success and retention, whether they have been used flexibly, and whether they have been used efficiently, using data for each service, but particularly the Army.

Since 2000, black representation among high-quality recruits in the Army has decreased, while Hispanic representation has increased; in the Navy, black representation has remained stable and Hispanic representation has increased. The authors identify factors that explain these trends and consider which policies are likely to be most effective in increasing high-quality enlistments among black, Hispanic, and white youth.