The R Programming: Basic course will provide participants with fundamental knowledge of the R programming language for working with multiple types of data, reproducible research, data manipulation, and reporting.

Participants in the course will have the opportunity to explore synthetic microdata, based on commonly used administrative data, using the Rstudio development environment and tools from the tidyverse suite of R packages within the ADRF secure data environment. Topics include R data types and their manipulation using the tidyverse, project usage, data management, and using R for reporting and constructing publication-quality output and reports. Upon completion of this short course, participants will have exposure and experience with core elements of the R programming language, and experience using R for fundamental data analysis and reporting tasks, preparing them for more advanced coursework in applied data analytics. Tuition for this course is $1,000. This course is only available to applicants in the United States. This course has no prerequisites and is offered 2-3 times per year. The next course will begin January 24, 2025, with classes meeting on Fridays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST and optional office hours on Mondays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST.

Join the Coleridge Initiative team to delve into the essential best practices for coding in modern data analysis, specifically focusing on Coleridge Initiative's Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). This webinar session will offer insights on how to optimize coding best practices to make data accessible and understandable for policymakers.

Effective data analysis requires both a strong understanding of the programming language needed to complete the analysis and adherence to coding best practices that ensure efficiency, scalability, and maintainability. In this webinar session, we will delve into the essential best practices for coding in modern data analysis, with a specific focus on the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The session will offer insights on how to optimize coding practices to make data accessible and understandable for policymakers. From code modernization efforts to enhancing the user experience for ADRF users, we will explore various strategies to improve the utilization of the platform. We aim to shape the content of the webinar based on a 2024 survey administered to ADRF users, ensuring that the material is tailored to the needs and concerns of our users as well as general audiences interested in modern data analysis practices.

The Advanced Data Visualization course will provide participants with advanced tools for the creation of data visualizations using the R programming language.

Participants in the course will have the opportunity to explore confidential microdata using the Rstudio development environment and tools from the tidyverse suite of R packages within the ADRF secure data environment. Topics include customization of ggplot objects, advanced visualization techniques and geometries, mapping of spatial data, creation of animations and interactive plots, and an introduction to Shiny apps. Upon completion of this short course, participants will be able to produce customized visualizations of a variety of different data types, as well as interactive visualization tools. Tuition for this course is $1,000. This course is only available to applicants in the United States. The prerequisite for this course is Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization. This course is offered 1-2 times per year. The next class will be held on October 18 - November 15, 2024, with classes meeting on Fridays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST and optional office hours on Mondays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST.

Join the Coleridge Initiative and the Multi-State Data Collaborative on October 2nd, 2024 at 1 PM ET to learn more about the Democratizing our Data Challenge Round 3 opportunity and how to apply.

The successful design of government policies and practices relies heavily on strategic collaboration between data partners. The Coleridge Initiative’s Democratizing our Data Challenge has enabled the collaboration of multi-partner teams from across the United States to expand existing data products developed in the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) and develop new data linkages, dashboards, portals, APIs, data models, and code repositories. Through the Challenge, we have gained invaluable insights and experience in data-sharing agreements, multi-partner collaboration, secure technology, data governance and compliance, and data infrastructures. In this webinar session, we will provide an overview of the Democratizing our Data Challenge and discuss how to apply for Round 3 of the Challenge.

Join one of Coleridge Initiative's upcoming fully-funded Applied Data Analytics Training Program. Participants will work with the NLx Research Hub jobs data and a synthetic dataset based on linked state postsecondary and workforce administrative data inside the Coleridge Initiative’s Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF).

Overview In partnership with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and the National Labor Exchange (NLx) Research Hub, the Coleridge Initiative will be delivering a training program focused on job demand data use and how to align it to skills and credentials in state administrative data. The course will be offered in October 2024 and January 2025. By the end of the course, participants will have the tools and experience necessary to create data products and actionable insights that: Enhance existing LMI efforts such as occupational forecasts through supplements to traditional sources of labor market data.  Better communicate the changing needs of labor markets across the nation. More effectively examine how skills and credential attainment align to job demand by industry, geography—such as subregion, metro classification, and state—and worker characteristics. The Coleridge Initiative, NASWA, NLx Research Hub, and Multi-State Data Collaborative teams will host a webinar about this training opportunity and the application process on August 26, 2024 at 1 PM EST. The recording and slide deck from the webinar session will be uploaded to this webpage once they are available. Participants in the training program will have the opportunity to work with the NLx Research Hub jobs data and a synthetic dataset based on linked state postsecondary and workforce administrative data inside the Coleridge Initiative’s Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The first class will begin on October 1, 2024, and the second class will begin on January 8, 2025. The program is designed with the understanding that it is difficult for state agency staff to make time for professional development, and participants are expected to devote no more than 2 to 4 hours a week to the endeavor. Application Information Teams from states new to ADA training, the ADRF, or NLx data, as well as those with experience are both encouraged to apply. State teams should consist of 2-3 participants, with at least one member from a state agency who is part of the workforce system, and others from state education and economic development agencies or local workforce boards. At least one participant should have strong programming skills. Priority will be given to teams that satisfy these requirements. As part of the application, the team lead will need to provide the following for each applicant: A recent resume or CV. A statement describing how their participation will increase the amount of actionable labor market information in the U.S. to support the recruitment, hiring, and training opportunities of all workers to good jobs. A statement from their supervisor describing how participation will support their agency in the near and long-term future. The team lead will also be asked to indicate a preference for the class they would like the team to attend, and can respond with “no preference.” Schedule Class sessions will occur at most once a week, with breaks for federal holidays. Class 1 Schedule: October 1, 2024 - April 8, 2025 1:00 PM EST, Tuesdays Kickoff: 10/1/24 (1 hour) Module 1 (Foundations): 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29 (1 hour each) Module 2: 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/18 (2 hours each) Self-Paced Project Work w/ Team: 2/19 - 4/7/2025 Final Presentations: 4/8/25 (approximately 3.5 hours) Class 2 Schedule: January 8, 2025 - June 25, 2025 1:00 PM EST, Wednesdays Kickoff: 1/8/25 (1 hour) Module 1 (Foundations): 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 (1 hour each) Module 2: 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 (2 hours each) Self-Paced Project Work w/ Team: 5/15 - 6/24/2025 Final Presentations: 6/25/25 (approximately 3.5 hours)

The Python for Data Analysis course will provide participants with an understanding of Python packages for applied data analysis.

Participants in the course will have the opportunity to explore confidential microdata using the Rstudio development environment and tools from the pandas and polars Python packages within the ADRF secure data environment. Topics include data access, manipulation, and summarization as well as coverage of data visualization using the matplotlib and seaborn packages. Upon completion of this short course, participants will have introductory exposure to tools that are applicable to a wide variety of research settings and that will prepare them for more advanced coursework in applied data analytics. Tuition for this course is $1,000. This course is only available to applicants in the United States. This course has no prerequisites and is offered 3-4 times per year. The next session will be held from September 13 to October 11, 2024, with classes meeting on Fridays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST and optional office hours on Mondays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST.

Join the Coleridge Initiative, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), the National Labor Exchange (NLx) Research Hub, and the Multi-State Data Collaborative (MSDC) to learn more about the two upcoming fully-funded Applied Data Analytics training programs.

We are excited to announce a fully-funded training program, developed in collaboration with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), the National Labor Exchange (NLx) Research Hub, and the Multi-State Data Collaborative (MSDC), focusing on job demand data use and aligning it with skills and credentials in state administrative data. The training will be offered in both October 2024 and January 2025.  Participants will have the opportunity to work with the NLx Research Hub jobs data and a synthetic dataset based on linked state postsecondary and workforce administrative data inside the Coleridge Initiative’s Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). Join us for this webinar to learn more about this unique training opportunity and the application process.

The Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) and Data Visualization course will introduce participants to applied data analysis and data visualization using R Programming language.

This course is a modern introduction to applied data analysis and data visualization using the R programming language. Participants in the course will have the opportunity to explore confidential microdata using the Rstudio development environment and tools from the tidyverse suite of R packages within the ADRF secure data environment. Topics include data access, manipulation, and summarization as well as coverage of data visualization using the ggplot2 package. Upon completion of this short course, participants will have introductory exposure to tools that are applicable to a wide variety of research settings and that will prepare them for more advanced coursework in applied data analytics. Tuition for this course is $1,000. This course is only available to applicants in the United States. This course has no prerequisites and is offered 3-4 times per year. The next class will be held in 2025, with classes meeting on Fridays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST and optional office hours on Mondays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST.

Join the Coleridge Initiative and MDRC for this informational webinar to learn more about the new State IMPACT Collaborative and how to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to participate in the program.

MDRC and the Coleridge Initiative are excited to announce an opportunity for state agencies to conduct a rigorous evaluation of a program or policy modification using their administrative data. We are looking to collaborate with state agencies interested in testing variations in program services such as enhancing a program by adding a new component or enhancing existing services. Tests must be programmatically feasible within a short time frame and have readily available data for measuring outcomes. State agencies will be expected to test variations in economic mobility program services. Proposed tests must target systems, operations, or policies in one of the following domains: workforce development, higher education, income support, housing, and justice programs. This opportunity includes direct funding as well as technical assistance. We are prepared to work with state agency teams across a range of levels of knowledge, skills, and competencies. Some state agency teams may have internal staff capacity to do much of the required data work on their own. Other state agency teams may need more hands-on teaching to complete the data analytics work. Regardless of the state agency’s evaluation and data analytics capacity, we welcome you to apply by August 7th.

Join the Coleridge Initiative, the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), and representatives from multiple state and higher education agencies to learn more about the Postsecondary Value Framework and how it can inform more equitable and effective higher education policies.

The Value Data Collaborative (VDC) is a data-driven approach to understanding the return on investment in higher education. The VDC uses the Postsecondary Value Framework, developed by the Postsecondary Value Commission, which provides a basis for understanding the return on investment in postsecondary education, particularly by race, ethnicity, income, and gender.  In this webinar, participants will learn from state administrators who have implemented the framework within their policymaking processes and gain insights into the challenges they’ve overcome. Speakers from Coleridge and IHEP will also dive deeper to explore the nuances of the framework and discover how it can inform more equitable and effective higher education policies.