Youth Policy Lab

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

Youth Policy Lab's researchers Robin Jacob and Catherine Asher at attending and presenting at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness 2025 conference on October 8th to 11th.

YPL's Catherine Asher and Robin Jacob are on their way to Chicago to participate in hashtag#SREE2025! Be on the lookout as they share their work related to early literacy and science, adolescent mental health, high-dosage tutoring, and educational research. #YouthPolicyLab #SREE

Bold Challenges awards $1 million to promote startup research The University of Michigan announced they would award nearly $1 million in Accelerate funding grants to ten University research groups.

YPL is thankful for the UM Bold Challenges Initiative enabling a collaborative team with @edpolicyford.bsky.social to pursue research related to early childhood intervention: www.michigandaily.com/news/researc...

U-M experts to examine cell phone policies in Michigan schools, effects on student well-being RESEARCH TO WATCHWHAT’S THE STUDY: A multidisciplinary team of University of Michigan researchers has received a grant from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct interviews and surveys...

Big News! YPL, in partnership with @umichsph.bsky.social colleagues, has been awarded a CDC grant to study cell phone policies in Michigan schools. The team will explore how cell phone policies affect student well‑being, school discipline & community safety. youthpolicylab.umich.edu/news/2025/u-...

Sam Owusu presenting at Michigan Head Start Association Fall Assembly

Group photo of Sam and organizers of the Michigan Head Start Association Fall Assembly

Sam Owusu in front of the Michigan Head Start Association Fall Assembly banner

Kudos to YPL Policy Fellow Sam Owusu for speaking on a panel at the Michigan Head Start Association Fall Assembly! In addition to sharing updates from the MiLEAP Office of Early Education, they sparked thoughtful discussion on innovative approaches to funding early childhood programs.

Colorful easel with the words "Detroit Future City" 10-year anniversary on a stage

Congrats on 10-years, Detroit Future City! We are pleased to work with you on an initiative to understand the Career & Technical Education landscape for Detroit high school students. youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro...

Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) Evaluation

Did you know YPL is partnering with the UM Law School Juvenile Justice Clinic to evaluate a pilot program that offers legal representation to juvenile defendants facing felony charges in Michigan? Read more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro...

Youth Policy Lab FY 2024/2025 Annual Report As we present our annual report, we reflect on a year of pivotal research at the Youth Policy Lab, particularly in the areas of education governance, career and technical education, maternal and infan...

We’re excited to share YPL's annual report, highlighting our programs, research, & impact over the past year: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research/ann... Subscribe for future updates: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/youth-policy...
#YouthPolicyLab

QR code to subscribe to YPL's newsletter

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest research, program updates, staff highlights, and job opportunities at YPL? Subscribe to our newsletter! We promise not to overwhelm your inbox—we only send a few updates each year. youthpolicylab.umich.edu/youth-policy...
#YouthPolicyLab

YouTube video by Ford School of Public Policy High 5s End of Year 2024 video - full version

With support from YPL, High 5s-a math enrichment program- was implemented in 20 NYC schools. Participation in #High5s closed almost 1/5 of the achievement gap between low-income children & their peers. Watch the end-of-year impact video: youtu.be/DHOxYvWVfVo youthpolicylab.umich.edu/research-pro...

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. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social...

Before the summer comes to an end, catch the highlights from the ASPIRE program! See the videos and photos that captured the students' experience - presenting research findings, meeting with speakers,and connecting with mentors. Visit youthpolicylab.umich.edu/aspire to see it all! #ASPIRE

📢 #EdWorkingPapers: How can we measure student behavior at scale?

@tiffanyxwu.bsky.social, @weilanch.bsky.social, @mattadiemer.bsky.social, Rebecca Unterman, @annakshapiro.bsky.social, & Thomas Staines use PCA and factor analysis to build behavior composites from admin data.

📄 bit.ly/4ofre5b

Research Assistants

Are you a UM student interested in social policy research that impacts youth and families? Complete the Research Assistant Interest Form on our website and we'll email you when new opportunities become available. Learn more: youthpolicylab.umich.edu/join-our-tea...

Two young students in career and technical education training

YPL is thrilled to announce the launch of the Michigan Career and Technical Education (CTE) Engagement Dashboards! These dashboards provide interactive, data-driven insights into Michigan CTE programs. youthpolicylab.umich.edu/michigan-car...

📢 #EdWorkingPapers: What happens when children get high-quality science instruction?

K. Lynch, @catherineasher.bsky.social, A. Gotwals, & J. Settlage show that science interventions in pre-K-1 improve children’s science outcomes & may support literacy & social-emotional skills.

📄 bit.ly/3Jejn7E

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 
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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