Watch the recording of the Introductory Webinar to learn more about the classes.

Overview

The Coleridge Initiative will deliver four fully subsidized Applied Data Analytics training programs for state government employees and their partners focused on education pathways between high school, college, and the workforce, and evaluating the intermediate and long-term outcomes associated with these pathways. The classes will be developed in partnership with the State of New Jersey, using the New Jersey Statewide Data System, and are sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Accepted class participants will learn and apply data analytic approaches such as record linkage, measurement creation, and data visualization to restricted-use linked K-12, postsecondary, and workforce data provided by the State of New Jersey and accessed inside the Coleridge Initiative’s award-winning Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). Prospective participants are expected to apply as project teams (more in the following section), and should not plan on providing their own data as part of the training.

The first two programs will begin on June 10, 2025, and the latter two will begin on July 9, 2025. The courses are 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. More information on the schedule is available below.

Application Information

State teams should consist of four to six participants, with at least two having strong programming skills (ideally in R and/or SQL). Teams should feature participants from multiple state agencies or partners, and priority will be given to teams that apply with a designated team lead embedded within the work capable of facilitating team discussions and overseeing and guiding the project development—we believe this setup will contribute to further advancement of the work following the completion of the training. The team lead does not count as one of the 4-6 members of the participating team.

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

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

• A recent resume or CV.
• A statement describing how their participation supports their professional development.
• A statement from their supervisor describing how participation will support their organization in the near and long-term future and confirming that they will be able to dedicate sufficient time to the training.

Team leads will need to provide a recent resume or CV and a personal statement describing why they are well-suited to support the work as a team lead. All personal and supervisor statements should be no longer than one page.

Teams will also be asked to indicate a preference for the class they would like the team to attend, and can respond with “no preference.”

The deadline to submit applications is May 28th, 2025.

Schedule

Class sessions will occur at most once a week, with breaks for federal holidays. Classes 1-4 will contain the same content. Please choose the class series that works best with your schedule.

Classes 1 and 2: June 10 - November 10

• Classes 1 and 2 Kickoff: June 10, 1:00 PM (1 hour)
• Module 1, Foundations of Data and Technical Literacy: June 17, 24 and July 1, 8 (1 hour each) at 1:00 PM.
• Module 2: July 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26, September 9, 16, 23, 30, and October 7 (2 hours each). Classes occur from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM or 2:00 PM-4:00 PM, depending on class selection 1 or 2.
• Self-Paced Project Work with Team: October 8-November 10
• Final presentations: November 11

Classes 3 and 4: July 9 - December 3

• Classes 3 and 4 Kickoff: July 9, 1:00 PM (1 hour)
• Module 1, Foundations of Data and Technical Literacy: July 16, 23, 30, and August 6 (1 hour each) at 1:00 PM.
• Module 2: August 13, 20, 27, September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5 (2 hours each). Classes occur from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM or 2:00 PM-4:00 PM, depending on class selection 3 or 4.
• Self-Paced Project Work with Team: November 6-December 2
• Final presentations: December 3