Application Deadline: November 7, 2025

Empowering States to Strengthen SLDS Insights and Workforce Pathways

The Coleridge Initiative invites state agency staff, academic researchers, and other SLDS and integrated data system partners to apply for a fully funded applied data analytics training program focused on improving education-to-workforce outcomes. This project-based experience helps build practical skills, provides opportunities for cross-agency collaboration, and results in insights that build capacity to explore education-to-workforce transitions using your own state’s data infrastructure.

This training is being developed in partnership with the State of New Jersey, and with Mathematica, developers of the Education-to-Workforce Indicator Framework (E-W Framework). The effort is generously supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the shared goal of strengthening states’ capacity to use data to better inform and improve education and workforce outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct Research in a Secure, Supported Environment

Collaborate on a team-based research project by accessing restricted-use, linked, multi-agency administrative data inside the FedRAMP-certified Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) platform. You’ll investigate variations in outcomes and generate actionable insights through policy-relevant analysis grounded in education and workforce data.

• Use a Proven Framework to Guide Your Analysis

Apply the Education-to-Workforce Indicator Framework to identify key indicators and metrics that matter for policy and practice.

• Bring Methods and Findings Back to Your Agency or System

Leverage the methods and questions you explore during this training to data from your own state. Many teams use the training to prototype analyses, refine cross-agency workflows, and identify metrics they can replicate or adapt at home.

What It’s Like

You’ll collaborate in a small team to design and complete a research project that explores a question aligned with the course themes and your professional interests. Teams will have access to New Jersey’s micro-data through Coleridge’s ADRF platform, using it to answer meaningful questions about education-to-workforce transitions.

The training includes weekly lectures from subject matter experts and guided project work, with a total time commitment of 3–5 hours per week. Each session is structured to support the skills you want to build and apply directly in your day-to-day work.

Application Information

You’re welcome to apply as an individual or as part of a team, but priority will be given to team submissions, especially those representing cross-agency collaborations.

Accommodations for individual participants or state teams unable to meet the requirements are encouraged to email training@coleridgeinitiative.org, noting their interest.

Applying as a Team

States benefit most when they send a team of 4–6 participants from multiple agencies or partner organizations, such as university-based researchers or others who support your state’s multi-agency data efforts.

Your group should include a mix of policy, research, and technical expertise. Two or more team members should have programming or analytic skills, ideally in R and/or SQL, to support the hands-on data work.

Teams are also encouraged to designate a team lead embedded within their state. The team lead plays a light-touch coordination role—helping guide the team’s project work and serving as the main point of contact with Coleridge Initiative staff. Team leads must submit a resume/CV.

Teams submit a single application. As part of the application, the following information will need to be provided for each applicant:

• A recent resume or CV, a LinkedIn profile link is also acceptable
• Supervisor name and contact information (required for setting up any needed NDAs related to data access)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to complete team submissions with a designated team lead. All other applications will be considered in the order they are received.

Key Dates

• November 7, 2025: Applications Due
• December 2, 2025: Kick-Off
• December 9, 2025: Tech Orientation
• January 6 - April 7, 2026: Live, Online Class Sessions on Tuesdays, 2-4 pm ET 
• April 14, 2026: Final Presentations