AIR’s Standards for the Economic Evaluation of Educational and Social Programs aim to help decisionmakers optimize the use of limited resources to improve outcomes. AIR experts discuss why the standards were developed, how they can be used, and what makes them particularly relevant now.
Very little is known about what resources are required to operate high-quality Out-of-School Time (OST) programs. The purpose of this study is to develop timely and relevant estimates of OST program costs and the funding necessary to support high-quality OST programs. AIR will use state-of-the-field methods for determining education program ...
In June 2013, AIR completed an initial evaluation of the patterns of resource allocation and the attitudes and perspectives of various stakeholders about the implementation of Hawaii's weighted student formula (WSF). The findings of this evaluation show that implementation of Hawaii's WSF appears to have gained widespread acceptance among ...
Colleges and universities increasingly rely on part-time faculty to meet instructional demands and rein in costs, but rising benefit costs and increased hiring for other types of positions have undercut those savings, a new report by the Delta Cost Project at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) finds. ...
A majority of Zimbabweans lack sufficient resources to provide nutritional meals, access to health care, school supplies, and clothing to their family on a regular basis. AIR conducted an impact evaluation of this cash transfer program implemented in 3,000 households in Zimbabwe.
Gang activity remains a complex issue in Guatemalan and Honduran societies. Our Guatemala and Honduras Gang Disengagement Studies explored questions such as: Can gang members leave gangs, quit criminal activities, and rehabilitate? If so, what are the conditions and factors that influence their decisions and allow them to leave their ...
In 2010, the government of the Republic of Zambia implemented the Child Grant cash transfer program, the results of which offer evidence that small-scale cash transfers to poor rural households with young children can stimulate economic activity while alleviating poverty. Building on this, in 2011, the Zambian government began implementing ...
This spotlight takes a look at the history of Title I, how the program has changed over time, and how it affects children, schools, families and education policy. Experts weigh in on the program's past and future in interviews, briefs, and blogs.
Studies have shown that education finance reform that addresses funding equity can improve educational—and life—outcomes, such as higher wages and a lower incidence of adult poverty. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides education leaders with an opportunity to evaluate the fairness of their funding practices.
This action guide provides information ...
Between 2007 and 2013, UNICEF commissioned 133 evaluations of UNICEF-supported basic education interventions. AIR conducted a synthesis review to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability, and advised UNICEF on how, when, and for what to invest limited resources in rigorous evaluations of the impact of basic education interventions. ...