Youth Policy Lab

Opinion | Michigan's education system needs structural reform now - Bridge Michigan Our independent study found that the current system of state-level educational governance in Michigan is broken. The status quo is failing Michigan's children.

In a @bridgemi.com op-ed, YPL's Brian Jacob writes about the systemic reforms needed to improve educational outcomes for Michigan's children. Check it out: bridgemi.com/guest-commen...

ASPIRE 2025 students posing as a group with their certificates for completing the summer 2025 ASPIRE program.

It’s a wrap! ASPIRE participants delivered insightful final presentations on their research projects. Their hard work culminated in a vibrant showcase attended by faculty and staff from YPL, Ford School, @umisr.bsky.social, mentors, speakers, and family and friends. Congratulations, ASPIRE 2025!

Improving Access to Early On® Michigan Through a Technology & Information Intervention

New report ⭐: YPL explored how a new eFax referral template can streamline physician referrals to Michigan's Early On® program so families with young children experiencing developmental delays can get timely access to critical early intervention services.#EarlyIntervention #EarlyOn 
myumi.ch/QwGGj

Thank you to the phenomenal speakers who shared your experiences & wisdom with the ASPIRE cohort! Your candid reflections have provided invaluable lessons about the importance of building relationships, taking bold risks, & following one’s passion. #ASPIRE #SpelmanCollege #MorehouseCollege

ASPIRE 2025 cohort with JPR researchers Paige, Angel, and Chiara

Making connections! The ASPIRE cohort learned about the Junior Professional Researcher (JPR) program at the UM Institute for Social Research @umisr.bsky.social . JPR is a fantastic program for recent college students who are interested in a career in the social sciences. #ASPIRE #JPR #ISR

The Impact of Making PreK Count on Short and Longer-Term Outcomes

Hot off the press! YPL's Robin Jacob and Catherine Asher published an article in the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, "The Impact of Making PreK Count on Short and Longer-Term Outcomes."  Read more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research/jou... #earlymath #PreK

ASPIRE students at the Michigan Stadium

ASPIRE students selfie at the Michigan Stadium

ASPIRE students group photo at the Ford School Spirit Day

〽️ GO BLUE! ASPIRE students had a great time touring the Big House and celebrating Ford School Spirit Day. They’re making the most of their time on campus—connecting with peers, embracing Michigan spirit, and advancing their research projects. #GoBlue #UniversityofMichigan #ASPIRE #FordSpirit

CTE millage to go before Washtenaw County voters as CTE program demand increases A new report shows that over the last four years, while overall student enrollment in Washtenaw County has decreased, CTE program enrollment has increased by 69%.

YPL's research helped inform the Washtenaw Intermediate School (WISD) Board’s decision to place a career and technical education (CTE) millage on the fall ballot. #CTE #careerandtechnicaleducation #Washtenaw
myumi.ch/kPrnz

🎳A Striking Good Time for ASPIRE mentors/mentees! At the heart of ASPIRE, mentorship offers an invaluable opportunity to exchange insights, offer guidance, and build meaningful connections. Thank you J'Mauri Jackson, Chaz Phillips, Alvin Christian, Jennifer Trigger, & Amy Rusch! #mentorship

A huge thank you to Sean White, Janelle Arbuckle-Michael, Ronald Butler, Nando Felten, and Emma Jabour for their insightful guidance and hospitality! Stay cool, everyone 😎

ASPIRE 2025 student: Brooklynn Vesey

As the heat rises this summer, so does the excitement in the ASPIRE Program! ☀️ We had an incredible trip last week to delve into the rich history of Michigan Central. Here’s to more learning adventures & continued success. And....here is the last member of the #ASPIRE 2025 cohort: Brooklynn Vesey!

ASPIRE 2025 participant: Angelica Pierce

#ASPIRE Week 3: 🗓️ Workshops, research, speaker sessions, office hours....and a visit to downtown Detroit! Learn about another amazing member of this year's cohort: Angelica Pierce from #SpelmanCollege

More about ASPIRE: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire
#Spelman
#YouthPolicyLab

ASPIRE ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is an eight-week summer program run by the Youth Policy Lab at the Gerald R.

Learn more about ASPIRE: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire
#ASPIRE #Spelman #Morehouse #YouthPolicyLab

ASPIRE 2025 participant: Tyler Mathieu

#ASPIRE Week 2 Highlights: The students are diving deep into their research projects and building connections with their mentors. They also had the exclusive opportunity to dine with Ford School Dean & Spelman alum, Celeste Watkins-Hayes. Meet another member of this year's cohort Tyler Mathieu.

Counterfactual Differences and Variations in the Impacts of a District-Run Universal Pre-K Program Research has long shown the positive effects of pre-K on student outcomes; the large, positive, and long-term effects of means-tested programs have resulted in a compelling argument that early childho...

New Insights about Universal Pre-K! YPL's Catherine Asher's recent article sheds light on the impact of district-provided pre-K on kindergarten readiness. #Pre-K #EarlyChildhoodEducation #KindergartenReadiness. Read more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research/jou...

ASPIRE 2025 participant: Chloe Fite

The ASPIRE students have arrived and the program is underway! The Spelman and Morehouse students are finding their way around campus, meeting people, and engaging in research workshops. Meet another member of this year's cohort - Chloe Fite!
Learn more youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire #ASPIRE

ASPIRE 2025 participant: Ke'Zhiah Champman

📣YPL is thrilled to welcome this year's students to the ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) program! Over the next few weeks, we will introduce you to each of our participants. This week, meet Ke'Zhiah Champman:
Learn more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire

Opinion: Research needed to make CTE more effective for students, state I is imperative for policymakers to understand which investments have the greatest impacts. This requires more robust data collection and research.

With increased funding for Career & Technical Education, it's critical for policymakers to understand which investments move the needle. In a @crainsdetroit.bsky.social op-ed, YPL’s Brian Jacob & Lynn Meissner make a compelling case for robust researches as the heart of CTE policy myumi.ch/5kkr6

Project AWARE

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. YPL is evaluating Project AWARE, a program to increase mental health awareness & improve community coordination. Over 2,000 adults have received training, mental health literacy & suicide prevention knowledge. Learn more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro...

YPL's Assistant Research Scientist, Catherine Asher, joined distinguished colleagues Carly Robinson, Monica Bhatt, and Mingyu Feng to speak about "Strategies for Conducting High-Quality Applied Research in Educational Settings."

YPL's Assistant Research Scientist, Catherine Asher @catherineasher.bsky.social, joined distinguished colleagues Carly Robinson, Monica Bhatt, and Mingyu Feng to speak about "Strategies for Conducting High-Quality Applied Research in Educational Settings."
#NSSA2025

Early Literacy and Math Early literacy and mathematics skills are critical to the future success of students across a variety of academic and life outcomes.

myumi.ch/Z2DxX
myumi.ch/xwqkb
myumi.ch/qZVzD

YPL staff who are former teachers: Brian Jacob, Deb Hubbard, Katja Robinson, Ann Erickson, Dimitri Przeslawski, and Shiyu Nitsos

⭐ Cheers to the YPL staff who are former educators on National Teachers' Day: Anna Erickson, Brian Jacob, Deb Hubbard, Dimitri Przeslawski, Katja Robinson, & Shiyu Nitsos!. We're proud to support educators by researching & evaluating the systems that enhance teaching & learning.

Poster image: Sandra Tang presented "Exploring Race/Ethnicity Match: Implications for Relationship Quality in Home Visiting" at the SRCD 2025 Biennial Meeting in Minneapolis on May 1, 2025.

Kudos to YPL's Sandra Tang for an outstanding presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial Meeting in Minneapolis! #SRCD2025 #homevisiting

Welcome new Policy Fellow Sam Owusu to the Youth Policy Lab

Welcome, Sam! With support from the @mottfoundation.bsky.social, Sam will work with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, & Potential Office of Early Childhood to strengthen access, affordability, & quality in MI’s early childhood education system. #YouthPolicyLab #PolicyFellow

Youth Policy Lab Home Page Data. Policy. Progress.

🚀 We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the revamped Youth Policy Lab website! Dive into our fresh design at youthpolicylab.umich.edu with a user-friendly interface, discovering the incredible work we're doing has never been easier. Check it out and let us know what you think! #YouthPolicyLab

Enhancing Futures: Exploring the Impact of the MIHP Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Pilot Program on Michigan Families Related Reports:Learn about the findings of an analysis of Z codes associated with Care Coordination claims for the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies pilot services. MIHP Satisfaction Brief: ‘Having someo...

It's Black Maternal Health Week! Check out our evaluation of the Michigan Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies pilot. This program closed the gap in meeting needs between Black and White families and has now gone statewide!
myumi.ch/Mkr4R
#maternalandinfanthealth #blackmaternalhealthweek

Program to create housing options for the formerly incarcerated - Spartan Newsroom HOUSING GRANTS: The Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity is awarding two grants of $200,000 to $400,000 to help ex-offenders find housing. Many have trouble finding a place to live in urban and ...

YPL's Policy Fellow Sophie Ordway is working with the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to help formerly incarcerated individuals access housing. news.jrn.msu.edu/2025/04/prog... #PolicyFellows

Screenshot of Youth Policy Lab's April Newsletter

Youth Policy Lab's April Newsletter is online: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2f9f8dfeb8... #YouthPolicyLab

🎉 We wish a happy work anniversary to these great YPL staff! Thank you for being a part of the YPL team, Deb Hubbard, Katja Robinson, Ph.D., Lynn Meissner, Ph.D., Dipita Das, Sandra Tang, Ph.D., and Sophie Ordway! #YouthPolicyLab

Federal funding supports critical education research at the University of Michigan This brief provides examples of federally funded research projects led by Education Policy Initiative and Youth Policy Lab-affiliated faculty. This research spans the full educational pipeline—from pr...

Learn about federally funded research projects led by Youth Policy Lab & Education Policy Initiative. The research covers the entire educational journey, from preschool to career, and has helped improve learning opportunities and outcomes for students across the U.S. Read more: myumi.ch/9pD59