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Peter H. Rossi Award Lecture: Roiling the Waters: Controversy over the First Longitudinal Randomized Study of a State Pre-K Program

The Peter M. Rossi Award Lecture, given by Mark Lipsey of Vanderbilt University, was structured into three parts: One on the context of pre-K education, one on the actual Tennessee pre-K study, and another one on the issues, exploration, and policy implications of major findings. The program presented numerous insights on education policy from several universities.

David N. Kershaw Award Lecture: What Does Education Do?

Nov 09, 2018

David Deming, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, and recipient of the Kershaw Award, discussed the importance of expanding access to high quality post-secondary education in the United States. In considering the impact of education, the lecture focused on the long-run impacts of early interventions, school finance reform and impacts of spending on long-run outcomes, the role of teachers and classrooms, charter schools, and school quality.

Super Session: 40 Years of Evidence for Action at APPAM and in the Field

Nov 09, 2018

Five leaders in the evidence based research in public policy space convened on this panel to discuss industry evolution and their experiences with it. The recurring message of the panel was big data and how to properly use it. Data mining and data analysis applications have become standard fair for public policy solutions. The panel, with the sum of over a century of experience, gave their take on how they have navigated this new era of policy making.

Systematic Reviews: The Next Step in Evidence-Based Policy Analysis?

Nov 08, 2018

Following the theme for this year’s #2018APPAM Fall Research Conference: Evidence for Action: Encouraging Innovation and Improvement, this session examined the role of systematic reviews in evidence-based policymaking. The moderator, Douglas Besharov, from the University of Maryland, introduced the session with the question: “Is it time for a more sophisticated approach to systematic reviews?” There were four speakers who provided separate responses.

Values in Education: Implications for Policy and Practice

Nov 08, 2018

Values in Education: Implications for Policy and Practice, a session presented the first official day of #2018APPAM, focused on the role of values in educational policymaking, basing the discussion on a recent publication entitled “Educational Goods: Values, Evidence and Decision-making.”

Preconference Day at #2018APPAM

Nov 08, 2018

APPAM kicked off four days of education, mentorship and networking yesterday at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park with several very informative Preconference programs. Speaker highlights included thought leaders from the Urban Institute such as David Connell, Stu Kantor, Bridget Lowell, Jon Schwabish, and Kate Villarreal. The official conference began today with a Fun Run and continues into Saturday.

Know Before You Go - APPAM Fall 2018 Research Conference

Nov 05, 2018

Our Know Before You Go contains some helpful information we wanted to share with you before you arrive so you may make the most of your experience at #2018APPAM.

BPC Obtains Documents Revealing Labor Dept Cut Funds for Program Evaluation

The Bipartisan Policy Center obtained documents through the Freedom of Information Act that reveal the Department of Labor sharply cut funding for evaluating whether its programs are operating effectively. The documents show the Labor Department quietly slashed the amount of funding it transfers to its chief evaluation officer for this fiscal year’s program evaluation to $2 million. That compares with $13 million and $27 million for use in prior fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Our Conference Theme Emphasizes the Need to Use Research and Evidence at Every Stage of the Policy Process | APPAM Leadership Blog Series

Oct 18, 2018

For me, fall is a refreshing season of new beginnings. Our member universities are back in full swing, students are launching into their research for the academic year, and the fall conference is just around the corner. I am proud of our conference theme this year, Evidence for Action: Encouraging Innovation and Improvement. The programming emphasizes the need to use research and evidence at every stage of the policy process.

Scholars from the University at Albany, Abt Associates, Vanderbilt, and Westat Earn the PhD and Vernon Awards

Oct 04, 2018

University at Albany alumnus Garima Siwach has been selected to receive the PhD Dissertation Award. Authors from Abt Associates, Vanderbilt University, and Westat have been selected as recipients of the Raymond Vernon Memorial Award for a paper published in the Fall 2018 issue of the Journal of Pubic Policy Analysis and Management. Both awards will be presented during the new Membership and Awards Breakfast on Friday, November 9, at the Fall Research Conference.