Very few mentoring programs have been scientifically evaluated or established as evidence-based practices. However, some programs show empirical evidence that participating youth do better.This brief looks at ways in which mentoring programs can effectively serve African American boys and presents a list of promising programs with positive outcomes. These programs ...
Twenty-two percent of infants in Bangladesh have low birth weight, and 41% of children under age five have stunted growth; the majority of these children lack appropriate stimulation and early learning opportunities. This project evaluates the Save the Children Early Childhood Stimulation Program, which targets very poor, rural families with ...
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Wraparound Zones (WAZ) Initiative is designed to create coordinated district systems that allow schools to proactively and systematically address the nonacademic needs of students. AIR conducted an evaluation of how well the WAZ Initiative achieved these goals, which found improvements in student ...
The Alabama Reading Initiative, which has drawn national attention, has produced encouraging results among secondary school students in part because of educators who took initial instructions that used a “one size fits all” approach to instruction and modified it to meet their students’ particular needs, according to a report by ...
The annual Condition of Education 2018 provides new insight into the costs and availability of child care options. Spotlight author Jijun Zhang, AIR senior psychometrician and statistician, recently discussed the findings with Susan Muenchow, AIR principal researcher in early learning and care.
Considering the decline in preventive care services and the continuing pandemic, it is important that health care providers ensure that their patients understand the continued need for preventive care and the efforts health care providers and systems have taken to make health care seeking behavior safe. ...
A new guide using strict scientific criteria to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of 22 widely adopted comprehensive elementary school reform models rates 15 as “limited” to “moderately strong” in demonstrating positive effects on student achievement.
Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders are increasingly aware of the powerful potential for summertime experiences and the need to design, implement, and continuously improve summertime experiences for all.
While communities have made progress in the last decade to reconnect youth to opportunities to thrive and build skills through school and employment, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens this progress. Now is the time to address this inequity through a learning agenda for opportunity youth. This brief explores the promise of ...
Namita Tanya Padgaonkar is a researcher at AIR. Dr. Padgaonkar conducts research and evaluation work for programs focused on supporting youth and their communities. She is dedicated to using evidence to improve the lives of young people, particularly those impacted by the juvenile justice system. As such, her work spans ...