Policymakers talk about solutions, but which ones really work? MDRC’s Evidence First podcast features experts — program administrators, policymakers, and researchers — talking about the best evidence available on education and social programs. The Evidence First podcast is produced by Katya Manna.

How Can Subsidized Jobs Help the Most Disadvantaged Workers Recover from the COVID-19 Recession?

Leigh Parise interviews MDRC Senior Vice President Dan Bloom about subsidized employment, which uses public funds to create jobs for the unemployed and which is especially useful during economic downturns. As policymakers respond to pandemic-induced mass joblessness, subsidized jobs can be designed to reach the most disadvantaged. Bloom explains how.

MDRC’s K-12 Education Research: Past, Present, and Future

Recently, MDRC celebrated 25 years of working in the field of K-12 research — collaborating with teachers, school leaders, and districts to improve students’ prospects for success. In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with Fred Doolittle and William Corrin about how MDRC expanded into education research.

Testing a Successful Employment Model in a New Context

Join Leigh Parise as she talks with Robert Drake, one of the developers of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, and MDRC’s Lily Freedman, who conducted an evaluation of a San Diego program that used IPS to help people with a wide range of disabilities find employment.

Can Schools Outside of New York City Replicate the CUNY ASAP Program?

Katie Beal speaks with Christine Brongniart, the University Executive Director of City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), and Camielle Headlam, a research associate at MDRC, about what it took to replicate the successful ASAP model at three community colleges in Ohio.

What Happens When You Combine an Accelerated Academic Program with Workplace Exposure and Career Skills?

Leigh Parise talks with Rachel Rosen, codirector of MDRC’s Center for Effective Career and Technical Education, about MDRC’s study of the P-TECH 9-14 school model, a six-year program where high schools collaborate with community colleges and industry partners. Interim results show the model boosts credits and state exam pass rates.