MDRC

MDRC is pleased to have received a new multiyear grant from Arnold Ventures, building on a decade-long collaboration between the two organizations to promote the use of the best research and evidence to improve policies and programs serving people with low incomes. “Over the past decade, MDRC’s work with Arnold Ventures has built important, actionable evidence in numerous fields,” said MDRC President Virginia Knox. “We are delighted to continue working with the Arnold Ventures team to bring decision-makers in public agencies, education systems, and other critical sectors the capacities and information they need to improve opportunity and economic mobility.” The new grant will support MDRC’s work in four areas: * bringing evidence to policymaking, particularly in states and localities, * promoting evidence to practice through technical assistance to providers, * supporting states and localities in leveraging their own data to improve programs and systems, and * enhancing the field’s use of applied methods to learn what works, for whom, and why. “Arnold Ventures is proud to have worked alongside MDRC over the past decade, raising the bar for rigorous research and evidence-based policymaking,” said Arnold Ventures Executive Vice President of Evidence and Evaluation Justin Milner. “We’re excited to deepen our partnership and further institutionalize a culture of evidence among decision-makers that will increase our collective impact in the years to come.”

Looking forward to moderating this panel tomorrow for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tune in for an important conversation on how to improve assessments so they better support the unique needs of prek children, educators and families!

Join the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this Wednesday, August 21, for a webinar on how to improve child assessments to better support the needs of pre-K children, educators, and families. You’ll hear from Elizabeth Mokyr Horner at the Gates Foundation, Leah Austin, EdD of the National Black Child Development Institute, MDRC's Emily Hanno, and parents and state leaders. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eHE8JTz5

MDRC's Sarah Picard and Leah Nelson from Alabama Appleseed wrote an op-ed for the Alabama Daily News about their new research identifying three major problems with trying to fund justice systems through fines and fees.

To wrap up The Policy Academies’ Washington DC site visit week, our Gueron Scholars at MDRC and Data Science Academy Fellows (hosted at Urban Institute) engaged in small group meetings across Washington, DC for meaningful discussions with experts within the government, legislative, and research fields. These interactions provided a deeper understanding of federal policy, the critical issues our nation faces, and career pathways for policy change. We are deeply grateful to all the speakers and professionals who generously shared their knowledge and experiences making this trip an unforgettable learning experience Jessica Cardichon, Katina Rae Stapleton, Ziyu Zhou, Imani Franklin, Brandon Mendoza, and Jinann Bitar #PublicPolicy #SocialEquity #Research #FutureLeaders #Whitehouse #EducationalLeadership #Government #Research

Please vote for this exciting SXSW EDU panel on evaluating #AI in education and career navigation! Featuring experts from MDRC’s Center for Data Insights, SkillUp Coalition, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), and the Center for the Professional Education of Teachers at Teachers College, Columbia University! https://lnkd.in/gukpT7WK

Want to stay up-to-date with research on employment services? Sign up for our BEES newsletter from the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) project with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Our latest issue highlights services for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders.

Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) site partner staff came together in June for a "Summer Swarm," sharing the great work they're doing. Now, BEES researchers will attend a "Cross-Pollination" (we <3 puns) to bring those lessons into the next phrase of the project.

Thanks so much to our partners at The Policy Academies for arranging this fantastic opportunity for MDRC's Gueron Scholars!

How can workers with low incomes find not just jobs, but fulfilling careers where their wages, skills, and responsibilities grow over time? That’s the power of sectoral job training, which matches workers’ preparation with the needs of employers hiring for good jobs in high-demand, high-growth sectors. This innovative, evidence-based model builds on decades of research around employment programs — by MDRC and others — to understand what works, what doesn’t, and why. Learn more about the sectoral approach, the stories of impact it empowers, and how MDRC and our partners (including STRIVE, Per Scholas, and St. Nicks Alliance) are taking it to the next level via the WorkAdvance model, which combines sectoral training with long-term career advancement supports: https://lnkd.in/e-a-uJ9v #mdrc #mdrc50 #jobs #employment #training #workforcedevelopment #evidence #socialimpact