Publications Our Research on the Greater DC region. Signature IssuesAdvancing racial equityBuilding strong, inclusive neighborhoodsCreating healthy and safe communitiesMeeting basic needsStrengthening public education and the labor force TopicsAdolescents and YouthAffordable housingAging and RetirementAsset and debtsChild careChildrenCommunity Engaged MethodsCrime and justice statisticsCrime, Justice, and SafetyEconomic Mobility and InequalityEducationFamiliesHealth and Health CareHomeownershipHousing and Housing FinanceHousing and the economyImmigrants and ImmigrationIncome and wealth distributionInequalityJob Market and Labor ForceLand UseLow-income working familiesNeighborhoods and community-buildingNeighborhoods, Cities, and MetrosNonprofits and PhilanthropyPay for SuccessRace, gender, class, and ethnicityRacial and ethnic disparitiesRacial segregationSexual Orientation, Gender Identity and ExpressionSocial Safety NetState and local issuesStructural RacismTaxes and BudgetsWealth and Financial Well-Beingeducation Research Report Evaluation of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program March 23, 2023 To build evidence on programs and support services that connect young people to college resources and opportunities, the Urban Institute was commissioned to conduct an impact evaluation of Urban Alliance’s High School Internship Program. Research Report Child Care Providers’ Reflections on Quality Improvement June 21, 2022 As of 2017, 49 states and the District of Columbia were devoting public resources to implement quality rating and improvement systems (QRISs) designed to support early care and education (ECE) quality and families’ selection of ECE programs. Brief Early Educators’ Work Experiences and Job Satisfaction May 5, 2022 This brief describes DC early educators’ pay, employee benefits, and work experiences based on a 2021 survey of teaching staff (N = 417) in licensed child development centers and homes that participate in DC’s quality rating and improveme Brief The Pandemic’s Effects on Early Educators’ Employment and Well-Being May 5, 2022 This brief describes how the COVID-19 pandemic affected DC early educators based on a 2021 survey of teaching staff (N = 417) in licensed child development centers and homes that participate in DC’s quality rating and improvement system, Brief Early Educators’ Virtual Training Experiences and Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic May 5, 2022 This brief describes DC early educators’ participation in professional development planning and virtual training during the first year of the pandemic, as well as their preferred training topics and formats. Brief Best Practices in Education to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery April 12, 2022 Although important improvements have been made in public education in the District of Columbia during the past decade, the pandemic disrupted instruction and introduced new challenges for many students. Research Report Child Care Systems Don’t Align with What Parents Working Nontraditional Hours Recommend March 30, 2022 Almost 5 million (or about a third of) children younger than age 6 living in families with working parents have parents who work nontraditional hours, before 7:00 am or after 6:00 pm on weekdays or on weekends. New research from the Urban Institut Brief Executive Summary: What Child Care Arrangements Do Parents Want during Nontraditional Hours? March 30, 2022 Almost 5 million (or about a third of) children younger than age 6 living in families with working parents have parents who work nontraditional hours, before 7:00 am or after 6:00 pm on weekdays or on weekends. Research Report District of Columbia Child Care Policy Research Partnership Study January 28, 2022 This technical report describes the steps taken to design and administer a survey of early educators employed in child care programs participating in Capital Quality, the District of Columbia’s quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Testimony Strengthening DC's Education Data Infrastructure May 11, 2021 In this letter, members of the DC Education Research Collaborative offer recommendations to improve the District’s education data infrastructure. Research Report Using Centralized Lotteries to Measure Preschool Impact October 30, 2020 A growing number of US cities are organizing common application systems for families seeking free public preschool for their children, and many use the deferred acceptance (DA) algorithm to assign students to schools that receive more applications Research Report Who Wins the Preschool Lottery? Applicants and Application Patterns in DC Public Prekindergarten August 24, 2020 Since 2014, the District of Columbia has used an annual common application to place new students from prekindergarten for 3-year-olds (PK3) through 12th grade in DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools. Fact Sheet Growing Youth Apprenticeship in Greater DC July 31, 2020 Youth apprenticeships offer a meaningful link between high school and the workforce, with benefits for students, employers, educators, and the economy as a whole. Research Report A Preliminary Study of Service Use across Colocated Providers October 29, 2019 Human services organizations that share space or “colocate” often reap benefits in property management, administrative services, and opportunities for collaboration. Brief Kindred Pilot Study: Summary of Findings from Parent Surveys and Focus Groups January 31, 2019 Kindred aims to tackle issues of racial and economic segregation in DC schools and communities by supporting dialogue groups for parents. Load More