Jacob Kirksey, Ph.D.

Education

• PhD (2020), Education, University of California- Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
• MA (2016), Education, University of California- Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
• BA (2015), Economics and Education, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO

Areas of Expertise

• K-12 Education Policy
• Economics of Education
• Causal Inference
• Program Evaluation

Selected Publications

Kirksey, J. J. (2025). The economic benefits of high-quality teacher preparation in Texas. [Brief no. 1].Texas Tech University.Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/101225

Kirksey, J. J. (2024). Amid rising number of uncertified teachers, previous classroom experience proves vital in Texas. [Brief no. 1].Texas Tech University.Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/98166

Kirksey, J. J. (2024). Building a stronger teacher workforce: Insights from studies on Texas teacher preparation. [Brief no. 1].Texas Tech University.Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/99592

Kirksey, J. J., Mansell, K. E., Lansford, T., & Crevar, A. R. (2024). House Bill 5 expands postsecondary pathways for rural Texas students. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/research/publication/house-bill-5-expands-postsecondary-pathways-rural-texas-students.

Kirksey, J. J., Mansell, K. E., & Lansford, T. M. (2024). Literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills of adults with disabilities in STEM fields. Policy Futures in Education, 22(3), 427-453.

Edwards, W., Kirksey, J. J., Burden, K., & Miller, A. (2024). Teaching close to home: Exploring new teachers’ geographic employment patterns and retention outcomes. Teaching and Teacher Education, 145.

Kirksey, J. J., Wiseman, A., Gottlieb, J. J., Lansford, T., Mansell, K. E., & Crevar, A. R. (2023). Bold action for a prosperous future: Evaluation of the Foundation High School Program and academic and career trajectories of Texas high school graduates. Texas Tech University. Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/handle/2346/90733

Kirksey, J. J., & Elefante, J. (2024). Familiar faces in high school: How having the same peers from year-to-year links to student absenteeism. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 29(1), 23-42.

Kirksey, J. J., & Lloydhauser, M. (2022). Dual certification in special and elementary education and associated benefits for students with disabilities and their teachers. AERA Open, 8(1), 1-11.

Kirksey, J. J., & Gottfried, M. A. (2021). The effect of serving ‘Breakfast After-the-Bell’ meals on school absenteeism: Comparing results from regression discontinuity designs. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 43(2), 305-328.

Selected External Funding

Landel, C. (Principal Investigator), Woulfin, S. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Kirksey, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator). “RP3 Implementation of Pathways Research Support for Field,” Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Foundation, $3,300,000. (October 2024 – September 2027).

Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator), Freeman, J. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Crevar, A. R. (Co-Principal Investigator). “Long-term Social and Economic Benefits of CTE Courses and Credentials: A Closer Look at Texas.” Sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation, Foundation, $298,583. (November 2024 – October 2026).

Greenhalgh-Spencer, H. (Principal Investigator), Shin, S. (Co-Principal Investigator), Cheon, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Mansell, K. E. (Co-Principal Investigator), Gottlieb, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Wiseman, A. W. (Co-Principal Investigator), Childers, G. (Co-Principal Investigator), Kirksey, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Hite, R. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Stevens, T. (Co-Principal Investigator). “MIZ Design and Implementation Certification,” Sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, State, $1,728,000. (September 2023 – August 2026).

Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator), & Gottlieb, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), "Exploring Potential Payoffs: Effect of the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment on Student Attendance and Parent Engagement," Sponsored by the Overdeck Family Foundation, Foundation, $186,037. (July 2024 – May 2026).

Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator), Gottlieb, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Higgins, R. (Co-Principal Investigator), Johnson, L. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Spott, J. L. (Co-Principal Investigator), "Investigating Pre-College Predictors and Post-Secondary Effects of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Texas," Sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $499,999. (June 2022 – May 2026).

Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator), Wiseman, A. W. (Co-Principal Investigator), Gottlieb, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Lansford, T. (Co-Principal Investigator), Mansell, K. E. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Crevar, A. R. (Co-Principal Investigator). "Bold Action for a Prosperous Future: Evaluation of Texas House Bill 5 and Academic and Career Trajectories of Texas Public High School Graduates," Sponsored by Communities Foundation of Texas, Foundation, $99,579. (January 2022 - September 2022).

Gottlieb, J. J. (Principal Investigator), McNaughtan, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Kirksey, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), "Community College Finance Research Project," Subaward from Texas A&M University (Principal Investigator: Lori Taylor), $42,260.00. Prime award sponsored by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, State, $480,000. (May 2022 - October 2022).