Founded in 1974, MDRC is committed to improving the lives of people with low incomes. We design promising new interventions, evaluate existing programs, and provide technical assistance to build better programs.
MDRC develops evidence about solutions to some of the nation’s most difficult problems. Explore our projects and variety of products, including publications, videos, podcast episodes, and resources for researchers and practitioners.
High School Follow-Up Findings from a Randomized Trial of INSIGHTS
A long-term study of an early social-emotional learning program implemented in New York City finds that benefits faded as students progressed through high school.
Describes the Business and Industry Leadership Team model of business involvement in community college technical programs and introduces MDRC’s study of it.
This brief compares conventional interpretation of research results with Bayesian methods, arguing that the latter better answers policy-relevant questions.
Recruitment can be difficult for social service organizations. This post describes methods used in the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies project to reach and enroll clients.
Describes an intervention aimed at students with college credits but no credential (“stop-outs”) that nearly doubled reenrollment across four colleges.
Building on an earlier MDRC study, the Grameen Financial Diaries study explores how microloan borrowers’ financial well-being improved without large net income gains.
Tutors’ Experiences, Diversity, and Retention in the Personalized Learning Initiative
This brief describes survey results on tutor profiles, experiences, and career goals, and highlights policy strategies to bring more tutors into teaching.
Presented Before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
In March 2026, Kelsey Schaberg testified about internship, career readiness, and work experience programs before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
Evaluating Multiple Measures Assessment in the Texas Corequisite Context
A study on the use of multiple measures—high school grade point averages, course-taking patterns, and standardized test scores—to assess students’ college readiness.
In a blog post originally published by the Data Quality Campaign, Angela Perry and Alyssa Ratledge describe how implementing Workforce Pell provides an opportunity for states to invest in modernizing, expanding, and improving their state data systems.
Middle School Follow-Up Findings from a Randomized Trial of INSIGHTS
This brief reports on the long-term effects of a two-year social-emotional learning program delivered to kindergarten and first-grade students starting in 2008.
This brief, drawing on insights from the Measures Initiative, presents data reporting strategies that help maximize the value of early childhood assessments.
This report from the Research Alliance for New York City Schools and MDRC examines two recent initiatives in New York City: Future Ready NYC and the Career Readiness and Modern Youth Apprenticeship program.
In this blog post originally published by New America, MDRC’s Alyssa Ratledge and New America’s Iris Palmer explain how career coaching can help Workforce Pell recipients enter, persist, and thrive in their chosen fields.
