Youth Policy Lab

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

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

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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