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.
Promoting Economic Stability Through Cash Assistance
Findings from a mixed-methods study of Rise Up Cambridge, a cash assistance program that offered $500 unconditional monthly payments to qualified recipients.
The Higher Education Randomized Controlled Trial (THE-RCT) Network equips researchers with resources to conduct high-quality, efficient postsecondary RCTs that follow best open science practices and support cross-study analyses.
A brief from the National Conference of State Legislatures and MDRC highlights state efforts to promote early math skills and offers guidance for selecting useful early childhood assessments.
Findings and Implications from an Early-Phase Implementation Study
An early-phase study examines the implementation of a new pilot initiative to incorporate environmental literacy into Delaware’s career and technical education curriculum.
User Testing to Shape the Development of Digital Tools for Young Learners
In a blog post originally published by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, Emily Hanno and Mallory Undestad describe what they have learned from testing digital tools with preschool children.
Effects of New York City’s Small Schools of Choice on Postsecondary Degree Attainment and Employment
This brief presents the effects of Small Schools of Choice on college enrollment rates, postsecondary degree attainment rates, and employment and earnings.
A sectoral training program in Memphis is partnering with local employers to identify areas that need workers and to train Memphis residents to fill those jobs.
The Role of New York City’s Small Schools of Choice and Students’ Incoming Math Proficiency
This study finds students’ eighth-grade math proficiency affected high school math performance. Enrolling in a Small School of Choice improved math performance.
Lessons on how predictive analytics—the use of historical data to estimate the likelihood of future outcomes—can help program operators anticipate and actively address client needs.
Lessons on how to use a hackathon—an intensive, time-limited event where teams collaborate to solve challenges—to build skills, spark innovation, and generate fresh ideas.
In 2025, MDRC posted nearly 100 reports, briefs, practitioner guides, and other publications — offering research results, profiles of innovative programs, and evidence-backed advice for policymakers and practitioners. Here are 10 of the most popular.
Describes how moving high-dosage tutoring into the school day in New Mexico increased participation, the most critical element to the intervention’s success.
In this commentary originally published by Work Shift, Rick Hendra and Melissa Wavelet show how states like Mississippi, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are turning their administrative data into actionable insights to boost employment and reduce recidivism.
In this commentary originally published by The Hechinger Report, Alex Mayer explains how expanding Pell Grants to short-term workforce programs can help students access good jobs — as long as students receive the supports they need.
An Evidence to Practice case study about an MDRC/Slingshot Memphis collaboration that uses data and community research to strengthen local workforce programs.
A Q&A on Career and Technical Education and the Green Workforce
In an interview originally published by Advance CTE, MDRC’s Rachel Rosen and Advance CTE’s Dan Hinderliter discuss how to prepare learners for careers in the burgeoning green workforce.
