Youth Policy Lab

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If you didn't get today's YPL newsletter in your inbox, you're missing the latest news about our research, programs, media highlights, and staff updates. You can still read it on our website and subscribe so you don't miss the next one! myumi.ch/G2nR4

Morehouse and Spelman College students: Attend this week's career fairs on campus and learn about the ASPIRE summer program at he University of Michigan! Apply before March 9: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire

ASPIRE information sessions will be held virtually on 02.13.2026 and 02.24.2026 at 12 PM EST. RSVP following the links in the post.

Spelman College and Morehouse College students - curious about ASPIRE? Join us tomorrow for an online information session. RSVP: myumi.ch/D8VG6
Learn more and apply: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire
#YouthPolicyLab #ASPIRE

YPL is hiring new UM student research assistants for this semester! Check out the job description - https://myumi.ch/W6mrk - and learn more. Applications are due 2/23/26.

YPL is hiring new UM student research assistants for this semester! Check out the job description - myumi.ch/W6mrk - and learn more. Applications are due 2/23/26.

Photo collage of new YPL research assistants: Giuliana, Alice, Hien, Summit, and Erika.

We are delighted to welcome new student research assistants to the YPL team! They will contribute by conducting interviews, collecting and analyzing data, & developing reports.

If you are a current UM student & interested in future RA positions, fill out our RA interest form: myumi.ch/79EG2

Why Boys Are Behind in Reading at Every Age

YPL's research, led by @catherineasher.bsky.social about the impact of intensive, small-group literacy tutoring was referenced in this article in @nytimes.com.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

More about the study: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro...

Sophomores and juniors at Spelman and Morehouse Colleges: Boost your research skills & explore career paths with the #ASPIRE internship program at U-M! Apply now: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire

ASPIRE ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is an eight-week summer internship program for rising college juniors and seniors from Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. Participating s...

Applications are open for ASPIRE 2026 - due 3/9! ASPIRE is an 8-week summer internship program (6/1 - 7/26) for Spelman and Morehouse sophomores and juniors interested in applied social science research. youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire
Info Sessions: 2/13 & 2/24 RSVP: myumi.ch/D8VG6
#ASPIRE

A tutor high-five a young student

We love a good data story! Check out this infographic about YPL's evaluation of a high-impact tutoring program for early elementary students in North Carolina. Bottom line: the tutoring program showed positive impacts on students literacy skills!
drive.google.com/file/d/1XHi2...

"In a different paper examining student flows in the initial years of the pandemic, University of Michigan economist Brian Jacob found that white families removed their children from public schools at much higher rates in districts that were slow to reopen for in-person instruction..."

Falling Enrollment Most Extreme in Wealthy Districts, Study Finds Whether spurred by pandemic closures or post-COVID frustration, higher-income families are increasingly separating from public schools.

Falling enrollment most extreme in wealthy districts, study finds

Exploring the Impact of Race/Ethnicity Match on Relationship Quality: Incorporating Parent and Home Visitor Perspectives

Check out our article in the Maternal and Child Health Journal! Sandra Tang, Robin Jacob, & Megan Foster Friedman examined whether a race/ethnicity match between parents in the MI Maternal Infant Health Program and home visitors is associated with their relationship quality. myumi.ch/xw4Ej

youth policy lab 2025 holiday gathering group photo

Happy Holidays from the YPL team! Wishing all the best to our partners and colleagues now and into the new year.

NC Ed Corps maintains strong literacy impact despite North Carolina budget setbacks NC Ed Corps, a tutoring program, is committed to its consistent implementation and focus on vulnerable students and schools.

New research from @catherineasher.bsky.social and @um-ypl.bsky.social about high-impact tutoring through @educationnc.bsky.social: www.ednc.org/nc-ed-corps-... #YouthPolicyLab

Hamilton Project webinar: K-12 education - accountability and performance on the 10th anniversary of ESSA

Join Brian Jacob and education experts Kirabo Jackson and Susanna Loeb as they discuss accountability and performance in K-12 education at next Monday's Hamilton Project webinar. Sign up: myumi.ch/qZyMN

Did scaling back school accountability and testing pressure hurt students? Critics say ending No Child Left Behind and moving to the Every Student Succeeds Act can help explain declining test scores. Here’s what the research shows.

Brian Jacob's past research with Thomas Dee is highlighted in this reflection on No Child Left Behind from @chalkbeat.org #NCLB
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/would-more...

Fellowship Spotlight: Enhancing School-Based Mental Health Evaluation in Detroit By working at DPSCD Central Office, Megan was able to address challenges and get answers to questions in a timely manner. Her relationships with DPSCD staff led to critical discussions about adapting ...

🌟 Fellowship Spotlight: Enhancing School-Based Mental Health Evaluation in Detroit 🌟 Megan Jagolinzer served as a Policy Fellow with the Detroit schools. Learn how her analysis and communication skills were integral to the Lab's school-based mental health program evaluation.
myumi.ch/VVQ2W

Have you seen our fall newsletter? If you missed it in your inbox or aren't on the list, no worries! You can read about our latest research, news media highlights, and faculty highlights by visiting our website: myumi.ch/XyZXp  Subscribe: myumi.ch/pVERQ

PI Catherine Asher is quoted: "Project AWARE played a pivotal role in transforming student mental health services in rural communities by providing essential resources, training, and collaborative support structures. These changes expand the capacity of rural schools and communities to address the excess demand for mental health support when existing resources and capacity are strained."

We're excited to share the results of our Project AWARE evaluation. This federal program was implemented in 3 Michigan counties, bringing schools, community and state partners together to build support systems for student mental health. Learn more: myumi.ch/rAMPj #YouthMentalHealth

Highlights from YPL's time at #APPAM2025! Check out our team members in action - presenting cutting-edge research and evaluation findings, connecting with colleagues and representing our commitment to evidence-based, policy-relevant research.

Profile photo collage of YPL staff who are attending the APPAM conference 2025

APPAM schedule of YPL staff on November 13 and 14

APPAM schedule of YPL staff on Nov 15

YPL social media logo

So many opportunities to engage with the YPL team at #2025APPAM! Check out the schedule and connect with Brian Jacob, Robin Jacob, Anna Erickson, Zaiyi Jiang, Lynn Meissner, &Katja Robinson around CTE, adolescent mental health, home visiting, and high-dosage tutoring. Hope to see you there!

Voters OK $25M tax supporting career training in Ann Arbor-area schools Although 54% of voters overall supported the new millage, small majorities in areas outside Washtenaw County impacted by the local intermediate school district were opposed to the measure.

🗳️ YPL’s research informed the newly-passed Washtenaw County millage to provide greater access to CTE for students in WISD schools! www.mlive.com/news/ann-arb...

Understanding Michigan’s Reconnect Program Applicants

📝Brian Jacob and an incredible team of researchers released their analysis of the MI Reconnect Program that provides for free community college for Michiganders 25+ without a college degree.  youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research/rep...

Halloween decorations in "Monsters Inc." theme

Halloween decorations in "Monsters Inc." theme

A joke that reads "This door was decorated by monsters. No Gen AI was used in the process"

YPL staff working in the office in Halloween costume

🎃🧟‍♀️😈We hope you'll partner with Youth Policy Lab - our team is full of real monster-minds! Happy Halloween!

As CTE programs expand in Michigan, not all students are getting opportunities Access to career and technical education programs in Washtenaw County is inequitable, according to a 2024 report from the Youth Policy Lab at the University of Michigan.

Have you heard about the Career and Technical Education outlook in Washtenaw County? Don't miss the recent article from @chalkbeat.org that references our analysis of inequities in CTE access & participation in the county. www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2025... #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #WISD #CTE

U-M experts to examine cell phone policies in Michigan schools, effects on student well-being A multidisciplinary team of University of Michigan researchers has received a grant from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct interviews and surveys to understand how school cell phon...

👀 PSC experts Brian Jacob & Justin Heinze, RCGD's Elyse Thulin, and Youth Policy Lab's Triana Kazelah Sirdenis @um-ypl.bsky.social to examine effects of cell phones in Michigan Schools. @umisr.bsky.social @rcgd-isr.bsky.social @jkaroub.bsky.social

news.umich.edu/u-m-experts-...

Youth Policy Lab project manager Deb Hubbard will be sharing information about the High 5s math curriculum for small-group kindergarten instruction at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - NCTM annual meeting on October 17, 2025.

Catch YPL Project Manager Deb Hubbard at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - NCTM annual meeting! She'll be sharing information about the High 5s math curriculum for small-group kindergarten instruction. Learn more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro... #High5s #EarlyMath #NCTMATL25

Catherine Asher and Robin Jacob near SREE podium

Slide showing 2025 JREE Outstanding Reviewer Award Recipients

Catherine Asher speaking at a SREE podium

Catherine Asher and Robin Jacob had a great week at #SREE2025. And congratulations to Robin Jacob on the 2005 JREE Outstanding Reviewer award! #EducationalResearch #SREE

Catherine Asher is presenting 3 of her researches: October 8, Recruitment, Training & Support: Impacts of a District Partnership Tutoring Model to Support Elementary Literacy skills. October 9, The Impact of High-Dosage Tutoring on Student Achievement Outcomes: Evidence from Four Randomized Controlled Trials. October 11, The Effects of Early Childhood Science Educational Interventions on Children’s Science Achievement: A Meta-Analysis

🔈There are several opportunities to seek out YPL's Catherine Asher at #SREE2025 to learn about her evaluation of different tutoring models through Accelerate as well as her research on early science education. #SREE #tutoring #EarlyScience