Coleridge Initiative's Innovative Approach to Data-Driven Policy
Coleridge Initiative's Latest Cohort Announcement
Three accomplished teams recently received funding focusing on crucial areas: workforce, education, and corrections.
Introducing the Latest Cohort
The Coleridge Initiative announced the latest cohort for Round Three of its innovative program aimed at democratizing data usage for public policy. The Democratizing Our Data Challenge (DDC) program aims to revolutionize how administrative data is utilized to aid researchers in building effective data products that ultimately benefit public policy. Utilizing Coleridge's secure data platform, known as the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), participating teams are developing tools to empower public leaders to make well-informed policy decisions.
The Vision Behind the DDC Program
Since its inception, the DDC program has sought to address significant challenges through partnerships across state agencies, universities, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. This latest round introduces two projects hailing from Connecticut and another multi-state initiative bringing together efforts from Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. These initiatives focus on crucial sectors, namely workforce, education, and corrections.
Empowering Teams with Resources
Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative, expressed excitement about the impact of the DDC teams. "It is incredibly inspiring to observe how these teams are transforming administrative data into impactful solutions for not just policy, but the individuals affected by them," she stated. By providing financial backing, secure infrastructure like the ADRF, and expert guidance, the initiative is bridging the gap between insights and tangible outcomes in critical sectors like education, justice, and family welfare.
Highlighting Third Round Awardee Projects
Three key projects have been funded during this round:
Connecting Education to Employment
This collaborative project across DC, Virginia, and Maryland aims to link education and workforce data for the first time. By establishing connections between K-12 educational backgrounds and workforce outcomes, jurisdictions can gain insights into how educational pathways impact residents, regardless of their geographical locations within the region.
Supporting Re-Entry through Workforce Training
The Connecticut Corrections project aims to assess how educational and training programs within prisons, such as the Vocational Village and Second Chance Pell programs, can enhance job prospects and financial stability for individuals post-release. Results from this project will illuminate the effectiveness of these programs beyond the confines of the Department of Corrections.
Childcare and Family Stability
The Connecticut Childcare initiative will merge data from Jobs First Employment Services, Care 4 Kids, and K-12 education programs to explore how childcare subsidies contribute to family stability. The project seeks to understand how these supports assist parents in completing job training and successfully entering the workforce.
Previous Achievements in the DDC Program
Previous rounds of the DDC have showcased remarkable projects achieving success through collaborative data-sharing:
New Jersey's Workforce and Education Insights
A comprehensive dashboard was developed by the team at Rutgers University's Heldrich Center, providing valuable analysis on employment outcomes across various demographic groups.
Multi-State Postsecondary Report Development
Teams from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee collaborated to create a Multi-State Postsecondary Report dashboard that delivers insights regarding employment outcomes following postsecondary education.
Innovative Measures in Ohio
Ohio introduced new metrics for tracking non-degree credential outcomes, complementing insights in their Multi-State Postsecondary Report.
Enhancing Employment Outcomes
Collaboration among Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, and Kentucky improved data representation in the Multi-State Postsecondary Report regarding graduates’ employment outcomes.
Evaluation of Micro-Pathways
In Indiana, the Education Design Lab executed a data model to evaluate how effectively micro-pathways enhance employment outcomes for individuals completing non-degree programs.
About The Coleridge Initiative
The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing how data is utilized for public decision-making. By working with government agencies, Coleridge promotes greater data literacy and encourages state collaborations to innovate data technologies through secure access to confidential microdata. The organization supports a wide range of clients, including 24 state government agencies and several federal entities through the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). With its FedRAMP-authorized cloud platform, Coleridge facilitates linking longitudinal data across various states.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Democratizing Our Data Challenge?
The Democratizing Our Data Challenge is a Coleridge Initiative program aimed at facilitating the use of administrative data to develop innovative data products that support public policy.
Who funds the DDC program?
The program receives generous support from organizations such as Ascendium Education Group, Gates Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation.
What types of projects does the DDC support?
The DDC funds projects focusing on critical sectors such as workforce, education, and corrections, offering insights and support for data-driven initiatives.
How does the Coleridge Initiative help researchers?
Coleridge provides researchers with access to secure data environments and expert guidance to develop tools that enhance policy decisions.
What is the ADRF?
The Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) is a cloud-based platform enabling secure access to confidential microdata for collaborative research across government entities.
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