ARLINGTON, VA. – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. hosted its fourth annual national convening in Arlington, V.A. on March 18th-20th. The convening explored how government leaders in the field are pushing the boundaries of traditional governance, forging data partnerships, and collaborating for better outcomes in public policy and administration.  “To drive change in how evidence and data are used to inform policy, we must work collaboratively to leverage partnerships and embrace innovative technologies that can empower policymakers and program administrators to make informed decisions for the betterment of our communities,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “The successful development and implementation of government policies and practices also relies on the adoption of technologies that support a data collaboration ecosystem.” "The Convening, hosted by our partners at the Coleridge Initiative, has been a huge success in showcasing the work of those engaged with the Multi-State Data Collaborative (MSDC) and the impactful work in areas such as reemployment and post-secondary completions," said Scott B. Sanders, President and CEO of NASWA. "These discussions and as well as support from foundations will help grow our member participation in the MSDC, allow partnerships with research groups to unfold, and move their vision to value generation in evidence-based policy discussions." During the three-day convening, attendees participated in interactive panel discussions for insights into how data collaboration can lead to better outcomes in public policy and administration. Attendees learned about innovative projects funded through the Democratizing our Data Challenge, domain-specific multi-partner product development, state-driven research practices, effective code modernization and reproducibility, cross-domain privacy-preserving techniques, and legal frameworks to break data-sharing barriers. Convening attendees also learned about federal and philanthropic funding progress with initiatives on data innovation and collaboration including state data linkages and use, training programs, technological enhancements, and collaborative community building.  About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more:www.coleridgeinitiative.org

ARLINGTON, VA. – In an unprecedented collaboration, MDRC and the Coleridge Initiative announced the launch of the State IMPACT (Innovative Models for Policy Acceleration & Collaborative Testing) Collaborative on Tuesday, March 19th. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide funding and research support to transform state policymaking by leveraging advanced data analytics and collaborative research to foster evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development. At the Heart of State IMPACT: Innovative Data Integration: Utilizing Coleridge Initiative’s renowned Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), which enables secure cross-agency and cross-state collaboration, the collaboration provides an unparalleled platform for data use, applied analytics training, and research for effective policymaking and program administration. Expertise and Experience: Drawing on MDRC’s track record of conducting high-impact evaluations and the strong relationships both organizations have developed with state agencies, the Collaborative will bring about meaningful policy improvements. Collaborative Excellence: The Collaborative will foster synergy between data providers, state employees, expert researchers, and data scientists working together to test new strategies in critical areas such as education, criminal justice, and employment. "Through the State IMPACT Collaborative, we're setting a new standard for how states can use data to inform policy and drive progress," said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. "By harnessing our combined expertise with the innovative use of data, we're poised to make significant strides in evidence-based policymaking." Virginia Knox, President of MDRC, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the initiative. "We are excited to launch this new partnership with our longstanding colleagues at the Coleridge Initiative and with states interested in using their data to build stronger and more effective policies and programs,” said MDRC President Virginia Knox. “Each of us brings unique skills and capacities that will advance this important work.” The State IMPACT Collaborative will vastly streamline data acquisition for use by evaluators and enhance the skills of state staff to conduct analyses of their own. Inspired by the success of an earlier initiative, the TANF Data Collaborative, the State IMPACT Collaborative will bring together data providers, state employees, MDRC researchers, and Coleridge data scientists to collaborate on high-quality tests of the effectiveness of new state strategies in education, criminal justice, income support, and employment, using linked sources of government data. Ultimately, this initiative has the potential to foster a culture of experimentation in state agencies, to bridge gaps in the fragmented data infrastructure in these state systems, and to build states’ analytic capacity, culminating in a public report that demonstrates the benefits to states of moving in this direction.    For more information on the Collaborative, visit the Coleridge Initiative website. About MDRC MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1974, conducts rigorous studies of programs and policies that affect people with low incomes, actively disseminates lessons to policymakers and practitioners, and works directly with programs and agencies to help improve their effectiveness. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org

NEW YORK – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced on Wednesday, February 28th that Richard Ferguson has been appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer. Ferguson will help lead the continued expansion and innovation of Coleridge’s Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). “As the new CTO, Rich will play a critical role in the advancement of our award-winning ADRF platform,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “Rich has a wealth of knowledge and his diverse experience will greatly contribute to our organization’s technological advancements. He has extensive background and expertise in strategically applying information security, software development, and systems engineering across government and non-governmental sectors.” “The potential of the ADRF platform in revolutionizing data analysis and decision-making in the public sector is immense and truly inspiring,” said Richard Ferguson, Chief Technology Officer, Coleridge Initiative. “I am eager to work with the team to further enhance this technology, making it more robust, user-centric, and innovative. We have the opportunity to make a significant impact on public policy and governance, and I look forward to contributing to this transformative journey.” Ferguson previously served as a Federal Chief Information Officer at the Federal Labor Relations Authority, as Chief of Technology Engineering for the Executive Office of the President, and as Chief Technology Officer for Lulius Innovation. He also served as a National Security Fellow at Harvard University and as a Brookings Congressional Fellow working for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader on Capitol Hill.  Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Nevada and a master’s degree in Leadership from Georgetown University.  About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc.  The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge works with government agencies to create value by providing public agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy in order to develop better policies for the public good. They facilitate the development of collaborations within and across states allowing for new technologies to be developed through the secure access to and sharing of confidential microdata. They do this by providing a platform to securely link confidential data within and across states and agencies, and by providing training classes to agency staff. Their platform is the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) which is a secure, FedRAMP-certified, cloud-based environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. For more information about Coleridge, the ADRF, and their training program, visit: www.coleridgeinitiative.org  ###

Commentary | The power of data linkages in evidence-based policymaking

Evidence-based policymaking thought leaders Nick Hart and Jason Saul recently heralded a new phase in the drive for evidence-based policymaking.  “Evidence 1.0 is great: we’ve generated a wealth of better knowledge, and that is fantastic. But the real point is to make all that knowledge accessible and usable.” Evidence 2.0, they said, is all about the data.  Actually, I think it’s all about turning data into actionable insights. While current evidence building efforts are generating a lot of information, we may be missing genuine insights that are right under our noses. In our experience at the Coleridge Initiative, you need to connect disparate data points to derive actionable insights. It's about recognizing and tapping into the immense potential inherent in data linkages. The true essence lies not just in the data itself, but in the art of connecting, itself. Imagine having multiple pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each held by different individuals in separate rooms.  Read the full article below.

NEW YORK – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced on Wednesday, July 19th that Jeffrey C. Thomson, CMA, CSCA was elected to the Coleridge Initiative Board of Directors on June 30, 2023. Thomson complements the composition of the board with his knowledge and technical expertise in financial and management accounting. “I am pleased to announce that Mr. Thomson has joined our board,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “With his extensive experience as a chief financial officer and CEO, Jeffrey brings a unique blend of financial expertise and analytical acumen to our organization.” “I am honored to join the Coleridge Initiative’s esteemed board,” said Thomson. “I am deeply inspired by Coleridge’s fundamental purpose to use ‘big data’ and data analytics for societal good. I truly believe that data science can transform professions and serve the public interest, in this case, positively influencing public policy and programs across the U.S. in workforce development and K-12 education.”   “I am thrilled to have Jeff Thomson join the board,” said Dr. Michael Holland, Chair of the Coleridge Initiative Board of Directors. “Jeff’s technical expertise in financial and management accounting are skills that will benefit Coleridge as we grow.  But more than that, Jeff has a clear passion for the mission of the Coleridge Initiative.” Thomson is Senior Strategic Advisor for Competent Boards, Inc., and Executive in Residence – Thought Leadership for Becker Professional Development, both global brands focused on competency development for senior business leaders in the face of a disruptive, high velocity and transformative global market. Thomson has been named in Accounting Today’s “Top 100 Most Influential People List” for the past 14 years and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Trust Across America/Trust Across the World.  Thomson earned his master’s degree in mathematical statistics from Montclair State University, and completed executive education programs at Wharton, MIT, and Columbia University. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org   ###

NEW YORK – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced the awardees of round two of the Democratizing our Data Challenge on June 28th. The winning teams are the Eastern States Longitudinal Data Collaborative - Teacher Workforce Report, Education Design Lab, and ResultsOHIO.   “The Democratizing our Data Challenge has been a tremendous success and has garnered enormous interest from state agencies wanting to collaborate and develop valuable data products for evidence-based policy,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coleridge Initiative. “Funded by philanthropic organizations, the challenge has enabled states to develop data products and collaborate across jurisdictions through the Multi-State Data Collaboratives.”   The three teams, consisting of three state agencies, four universities, and four nonprofit organizations, have been funded to develop actionable information and data products about the teacher workforce, employment outcomes for micro-pathway participants, and community college outcomes. The three winning teams will move immediately to develop and scale their innovative approaches to understanding these important issues.   The second round of the Democratizing our Data Challenge was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, Overdeck Family Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation. The challenge was designed to develop and scale innovative product ideas for understanding public policy and programs by using administrative data that are securely hosted in the Coleridge Initiative’s Administrative Data Research Facility. Successful projects are sustainable and scale across agencies, states, and communities through the collaboration of agencies and partner organizations such as universities, nonprofits, and mission-driven private organizations.   To learn more about the awarded proposals, please visit the Coleridge Initiative website.   About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc.   The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org   ###

NEW YORK – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. launched the new Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) Management Portal on June 21st. The portal has been developed to efficiently manage operational workflows between agencies, datasets, agreements, and research projects utilizing the Administrative Data Research Facility. “At Coleridge, we strive to provide agencies and researchers with the tools they need to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, Chief Executive Officer at Coleridge Initiative. “The ADRF Management Portal is a huge step forward as we continue to scale and innovate by providing users with key insights on performance measurement and utilization while enabling self-service capabilities to improve turnaround time and efficiency.” “Providing researchers with a user-friendly management system that enables self-service for optimal operational efficiency has been our top priority,” said Mahesh Sahore, Chief Technology Officer at Coleridge Initiative. “The new management portal will eliminate user dependency on our help desk to fulfill the provisioning of requests by taking full advantage of the self-service capability while also being able to view operational data analytics.” Coleridge strives to maximize user benefits and enhance the user experience for researchers utilizing the ADRF platform. Some of the key benefits of the new management system include a digitized workflow, easy tracking and reporting, standardized forms that minimize user request and project workspace turnaround time, and the ability to scale with faster user request fulfillment. New capabilities of the management system include a shared isolation model and entitlements for tracking and reporting.    About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc.   The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-authorized environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org  

WASHINGTON -- The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. hosted their third annual national convening in Washington, D.C. from March 27th-29th. The convening highlighted the transformative potential of collaborations among government agencies and researchers that use linked administrative data to produce actionable insights to improve government programs. "States play a critical role in building evidence to improve the impact of federal programs administered at the state and local levels," said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. "They should be partners in creating the evidence-building ecosystems needed to leverage all data in ways that benefit constituents, improve programs, and inform policy." "The Coleridge Initiative's 3rd Annual National Convening has been a highly valuable gathering of multi-state, cross-agency, and cross-sector peers," said Robert McGough, Chief Data Officer of the State of Arkansas. "The convening served to catalyze, scale, and accelerate the incredible benefits being realized through the multi-state data collaboratives and Coleridge's Administrative Data Research Facility." "The Convening – the first in person - hosted by our partners at the Coleridge Initiative has been a huge success in continuing the conversation from the curious to the committed," said Scott B. Sanders, President and CEO of NASWA. "These discussions have helped our members in the multi-state data collaboratives move their vision to value generation in evidence-based policy discussions." This year's convening sparked interest and continued to build upon the interest of federal, state, and proprietary data owners to work together to harness the rich government administrative and statistical data as well as private sector data to answer important policy questions. Sessions highlighted state and federal projects working with linked data, state data products being used to inform policy, and the impact of the Democratizing our Data Challenge. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge's secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org Contact: Johana Caba, M.A. johana.caba@coleridgeinitiative.org

NEW YORK – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced today that Dr. Mark Zandi was elected to the Coleridge Initiative Board of Directors on October 23, 2022. Dr. Zandi compliments the composition of the board with his wealth of expertise and knowledge in financial markets and policy. “I am thrilled to announce that Mark has joined the board,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “His reputation as one of the nation’s top economists and experience with policymakers are valuable additions to the board.” “It is a great honor to join the Coleridge board,” said Dr. Zandi. “I admire Coleridge’s mission of facilitating the use of government data for more effective public policy decisions, and look forward to using my experience as an economist that has relied heavily on government data throughout my career to advance Coleridge’s work.” “We are honored that Mark Zandi has joined us on the board,” said Dr. Michael Holland, Chair of the Coleridge Initiative Board of Directors. “Mark’s experience co-founding Economy.com, a data analytics company providing economic and demographic research services and data curation on industrial, financial and regional markets, that has grown and evolved over the 30 years are indispensable for Coleridge’s continued growth.” Dr. Zandi is chief economist of Moody's Analytics where he directs economic research. Moody's Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody's Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. He is a trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for business, journalists and the public. Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress and conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations, and policymakers at all levels. Dr. Zandi earned his bachelor of science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge’s secure data hosting platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), is a FedRAMP-certified environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. Learn more: www.coleridgeinitiative.org   ###

NEW YORK – The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced on January 11th that 2023 is the Year of Open Science featuring actions across the federal government to advance national open science policy, provide access to the results of the nation’s taxpayer-supported research, accelerate discovery and innovation, promote public trust, and drive more equitable outcomes. OSTP also announced new actions to advance open and equitable research, including new grant funding, improvements in research infrastructure, broadened research participation for emerging scholars, and expanded opportunities for public engagement. “The Coleridge Initiative is thrilled to see the Administration’s commitment to new investments in research, science, and innovation to drive progress for the public throughout the nation,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “To make informed data-driven policy decisions that are in the best interest of the public, we need efforts like this to transform how we collect, analyze and link data from across agencies and jurisdictions. Public data and statistics offer immense value when they are connected and linked across public agencies to generate new insights and develop data products that can be used to inform public policy decisions with evidence.” Dr. Yildirmaz oversees the Coleridge Initiative’s work with states and federal government agencies to leverage data for the public good. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge works with government agencies to create value by providing public agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy in order to develop better policies for the public good. They facilitate the development of collaborations within and across states allowing for new technologies to be developed through the secure access to and sharing of confidential microdata. They do this by providing a platform to securely link confidential data within and across states and agencies, and by providing training classes to agency staff. Their platform is the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) which is a secure, FedRAMP-certified, cloud-based environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. For more information about Coleridge, the ADRF, and their training program, visit: www.coleridgeinitiative.org ###

New York – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced on Tuesday, January 10th that Dr. Jessica Cunningham has been appointed as the new Vice President of State Programs. As the Vice President of State Programs, Dr. Cunningham will help lead the continued expansion of state engagement and collaborative research within Coleridge’s Administrative Data Research Facility. “I am pleased to announce that Jessica will be joining the Coleridge team,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. “Jessica has been an integral member of our external community and a key partner in helping us develop and expand the Multi-State Collaboratives. She has served as an executive committee member for the Southern Regional Collaborative and has led the Multi-State Collaborative effort for cross-state postsecondary education and workforce outcomes out of the Midwest Collaborative.” “I have been passionate about the Coleridge Initiative since its inception from my involvement as a leading state partner both in training and innovative research,” said Dr. Jessica Cunningham, Vice President of State Programs, Coleridge Initiative. “It is an honor to join the effort, and I hope to continue to support the actionable use of data for the public good. I look forward to strengthening current state and federal partner relationships in a different capacity while fostering new connections to expand the use of data in research and training.” Dr. Cunningham previously served as Executive Director and Labor Market Information Director at the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS). She led the development, maintenance, and reporting for one of the nation’s leading longitudinal data systems (Kentucky Longitudinal Data System) and the Kentucky Labor Market Information. During her tenure, she led the Kentucky research through three biannual strategic agendas to inform policymakers, practitioners, and the public on topics related to program outcomes across education, public assistance, criminal justice, and workforce. Dr. Cunningham brings with her experience in writing, managing, and evaluating state, federal, and philanthropic grants as well as teaching and research experience from her time as faculty in North Carolina and Kentucky. Dr. Cunningham earned a doctorate in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky specializing in Measurement and Statistics. She also earned a master’s of science and a bachelor’s of science in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College respectively. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge works with government agencies to create value by providing public agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy in order to develop better policies for the public good. They facilitate the development of collaborations within and across states allowing for new technologies to be developed through the secure access to and sharing of confidential microdata. They do this by providing a platform to securely link confidential data within and across states and agencies, and by providing training classes to agency staff. Their platform is the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) which is a secure, FedRAMP-certified, cloud-based environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. For more information about Coleridge, the ADRF, and their training program, visit: www.coleridgeinitiative.org ###

Washington, D.C. – As global demand for scientists and engineers scales up, so are questions around the availability and value of U.S. training opportunities for foreign-born scientists and engineers to become part of the U.S. workforce. To help answer some of those questions, the Coleridge Initiative, a non-profit organization that works with government agencies to ensure effective use of data in public decision-making, hosted a conference, Foreign-Born Scientists and Engineers: Creating a New Data Infrastructure in the U.S. The two-day conference, Sept. 21-22, served as the inaugural meeting of a team of researchers from the Coleridge Initiative, the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University, and the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services, Division of Information Systems, ARData. The conference is part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation through America’s DataHub to establish the foundations of a national data infrastructure to address gaps in knowledge about foreign-born scientists and engineers in the United States. The project seeks to establish the feasibility of creating a platform that would link state-level education data to individual and firm-level employment data. “This project is an opportunity to test linking federal and state level data assets to establish the foundations of a national data infrastructure,” said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, president and chief executive officer of the Coleridge Initiative. “With this initiative, we will be able to address unanswered questions about foreign-born scientists and engineers in the United States. From this, we hope to demonstrate a new tool to help mold data-driven policy choices.”  Participants in the conference expressed optimism moving forward: “I am pleased to be here with our partners from the Coleridge Initiative and the states of Arkansas and Kentucky to watch my colleague Stephanie Walsh present our work on creating a data model for the Foreign-Born Scientists and Engineers grant project,” said Sean Simone, Acting Executive Director & Director, Research and Evaluation for the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.  “This important work can serve as a model for federal and state data sharing partnerships to answer the difficult policy questions at the local and national levels,” Simone said “The convening was an energizing and productive event bringing together a diverse group of experts for productive collaboration towards establishment of a national data infrastructure for secure research and evidence-based policy and practice,” said Robert McGough, Deputy Chief Data Officer for the State of Arkansas.  “The ARData team is humbled and appreciative to have the opportunity to contribute to this pivotal effort through research and development on highly scalable, privacy-preserving record linkage methods to address the specific challenges of supporting administrative data research on foreign born scientists and engineers.” “The Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) is excited to expand the work we began with the Multistate Postsecondary Workforce Dashboard and delve into building a linked data infrastructure to help us better understand education and workforce flows for foreign-born scientists and engineers with our partners the Coleridge Initiative, Arkansas and New Jersey,” said Dr. Jessica Cunningham, Executive Director, KYSTATS. “This work will allow us to understand the current data landscape available to answer key questions and the available opportunities to improve it,” Dr. Nathan Barrett, Vice President of Programs and Development, Coleridge Initiative. About the Coleridge Initiative The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge works with government agencies to create value by providing public agencies with the opportunity to enhance their workforce data literacy in order to develop better policies for the public good. They facilitate the development of collaborations within and across states allowing for new technologies to be developed through the secure access to and sharing of confidential microdata. They do this by providing a platform to securely link confidential data within and across states and agencies, and by providing training classes to agency staff. Their platform is the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF) which is a secure, FedRAMP-certified, cloud-based environment that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. For more information about Coleridge, the ADRF, and their training program, visit: www.coleridgeinitiative.org ###

Funded by the Coleridge Initiative’s Democratizing Our Data Challenge and in collaboration with New Jersey and Virginia, DataSpark will be leading the effort to create a multi-state postsecondary report for New England and the Mid-Atlantic. The effort will securely link education and employment records cross-state and explore to what extent postsecondary graduates work out-of-state following graduation.  As it turns 30, DataSpark, located at the University of Rhode Island Libraries, is about to undertake a major, multi-state effort to determine whether Rhode Island and its neighboring states are, in fact, experiencing a “brain drain.” DataSpark operates and maintains Rhode Island’s statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS), also known as the RI DataHUB, linking individual level data from early childhood through time in the workforce. 

Chevy Chase, MD – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced the first-round winners of the Democratizing our Data: A Challenge to Invest in Data and Evidence-based Policy on Tuesday, March 15. The Democratizing our Data Challenge was designed to build on successful investments made by government agencies to collaborate, develop, and scale tools and practices—such as dashboards, reemployment portals, applied data analytics training programs, and data models—in order to have better evidence that informs education and workforce policy. Ten teams from 21 major agencies and seven universities have been funded to develop actionable information about pressing issues related to people seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce, including low-income workers and learners, at-risk youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals.   “The first round of the data challenge, launched in September, was a huge success and garnered an enormous amount of interest,” said Julia Lane, chief scientist of the Coleridge Initiative. “The winning proposals showed that state government agencies are eager and able to collaborate with many types of organizations to produce useful products of value. There is enormous willingness to explore new domains, such as the training of formerly incarcerated individuals, K-12 education, and credentials. We’re looking forward to the results–and to new proposals in Round 2.” The ten winning teams will move immediately to develop and scale their innovative approaches to understanding employment outcomes. Their work will be highlighted at a national meeting, Multi-state Data Collaboratives: From Projects to Products to Practice, on March 30-31.  A series of lightning talks will provide a brief summary of each project from 2:05-2:55pm Eastern Time; more in-depth conversations with the community are featured the morning of March 31. Register here to attend. And check the Data Challenge website regularly for updates on the teams’ progress. The second round of the Democratizing our Data Challenge is launched on March 15, 2022, and is also intended to inspire collaboration between states and partners to produce actionable, evidence-based products to inform policy. State agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofits with data and research capabilities, and mission-driven private organizations are eligible and encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by June 15, 2022. For more information and to apply visit the Democratizing Our Data Challenge website. Democratizing our Data Challenge Round 1 Winners Transitions in Education to Workforce Expanding the Multi-State Postsecondary Report Dashboard: Collaborative Education to Workforce Flows: Led by Kentucky Center for Statistics, this collaboration will expand the Multi-State Postsecondary Report dashboard to include Indiana and Tennessee postsecondary completers, view regional student flow patterns, and gain greater insight into the relationships of state policies on postsecondary and workforce outcomes, with breakdowns by various demographic groups and measures of “quality” employment. Eastern States Longitudinal Data Collaborative: Led by Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Virginia, this proposal will collaborate with Kentucky to bring the Multi-State Postsecondary Report to the eastern states. The dashboard will use postsecondary and workforce data to provide insight into education and employment outcomes and improve cross-state policymaking. Implementing a Value Data Framework Institute for Higher Education Policy: This proposal will conduct an applied data analytics training class to implement the Institute for Higher Education Policy’s Postsecondary Value Framework, which establishes an empirical basis for understanding the return on investment in postsecondary education, particularly by race/ethnicity, income, and gender. The training, meant for state agency staff and other policy stakeholders, will use microlevel data from up to three participating states to develop a common data model and code that are easily scalable to other states. The Value of Credentials in the Workforce Education and Credentialing of Childcare Workers in Illinois: This proposal would explore and develop cross-state replicable tools to better understand and monitor the connection between the education of childcare workforce and their employment dynamics, including public-facing dashboards and detailed data for program administrators through an innovative new tiered-access approach. Expanding Multi-State Postsecondary Report Dashboard with Workforce Credentials and Students without Degrees: This proposal will build the capacity of the Multi-State Postsecondary Report by incorporating data on workforce credentials and students without degrees. Specifically, the Ohio Education Research Center will develop the updated dashboard to include data on career and technical education, registered apprenticeships, individuals with stranded credits, and individuals with “stranded credits” but not a full degree. Indiana Credential Outcome Transparency: This proposal creates a technical blueprint for mapping the Credential Engine schema to wage, employment, and training provider data, and a prototype “Return on Credential Investment” app that enables youth, unemployed, displaced, and transitioning workers to better understand high demand career pathways. Unemployment to Reemployment Portals ARDATA Unemployment Claims Resource Planning Dashboard: This proposal, led by Arkansas, will fully implement and expand a prototype Unemployment Claims Resource Planning Dashboard developed through a prior Applied Data Analytics training program sponsored by the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Education and Training as a Gateway to Reemployment of the Unemployed: Through the Lens of Equity: Led by Illinois, this proposal will develop measures and tableau visualizations on unemployment spell behavior by education categories of local unemployment insurance (UI) claimants to understand how the progression of certification weeks impacts the reemployment probability by education level. The proposal will incorporate the National Directory of New Hires for timely measures of reemployment activity, and will augment the work through a national Applied Data Analytics training. Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: This proposal will bring the Unemployment-to-Reemployment portal to Wisconsin, informed by an inaugural Applied Data Analytics training course, with an interest in cross-state workflows between Illinois and Michigan. The training will help teach workforce boards and agency staff how to use the portal, and to deepen partnerships and collaboration among states and agencies. Building Better Understanding and Use of K-12 Data Chicago: Inclusive Economy Labs: This proposal will create data dashboards linking Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Community Colleges data to inform understanding of transitions from education to workforce. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development: This proposal will develop a publicly available data model for state K-12 data submissions to the ADRF, outline use cases, describe existing data models, and create technical documentation detailing tables, elements, options set, and entity relationships. Support for the Democratizing our Data Challenge and the Multi-State Data Collaboratives convening is provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ascendium, Overdeck Family Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a not-for-profit organization, originally established at New York University, which became fully independent in August 2020. Coleridge is at the forefront of transforming the empirical foundation of social science research and policymaking in the United States. Their work on building new technologies is combined with training programs and consulting services that help build agency capacity to better serve society. The Coleridge Initiative works with government agencies to break down the barriers to accessing confidential data. They manage a secure computational research platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), to provide access to sensitive and confidential microdata. Since the organization was founded, they have worked with over 250 federal, state, and local agencies and trained almost 1,000 agency staff. For more information on Coleridge, the ADRF, training programs, and events, visit: www.coleridgeInitiative.org  ###

Chevy Chase, MD – The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. announced on Monday, October 25th that Ahu Yildirmaz has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer. Julia Lane, who has been the Chief Executive Officer as well as President of the Board of Directors, will continue as Chief Scientist. Dr. Yildirmaz has more than 20 years of experience in several senior management and leadership roles, including finance, strategy, research and data analytics. Prior to joining the Coleridge Initiative, Dr. Yildirmaz was the co-Head of the ADP Research Institute, where she created a legacy framework of unique data analyses and insights leveraging the company’s administrative payroll data. “We are very excited to have Ahu join our team,” said Julia Lane, Chief Scientist and President of the Board of Directors for the Coleridge Initiative. “Ahu’s deep understanding of how data can be used in evidence-building will help us continue to support government agencies in their efforts to advance public policy.” “I am delighted to lead such a high impact organization,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, Chief Executive Officer of the Coleridge Initiative. “The Coleridge Initiative is uniquely positioned to work in the public and private sector to ensure that data are more effectively used to improve policy decisions. I am thrilled to become part of a strong team that has contributed so much to national, state, and local decision-making in just a few years.” Dr. Yildirmaz previously held leadership roles with progressing responsibilities at ADP, Johnson & Johnson and AT&T in the areas of research, strategy, corporate finance and market insights. She has also taught several courses in economics and finance at New York University, Manhattan College and the City University of New York. Dr. Yildirmaz earned a doctorate degree in economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc.  The Coleridge Initiative is a not-for-profit start-up, originally established at New York University’s Center for Urban Science and Progress. The Coleridge Initiative became fully independent in August 2020 and is led by world renowned experts including Rayid Ghani, Robert Goerge, Frauke Kreuter, and Julia Lane. Coleridge is at the forefront of transforming the empirical foundation of social science research and policymaking in the United States. Their work on building new technologies is combined with training programs and consulting services that help build agency capacity to better serve society. The Coleridge Initiative works with government agencies to break down the barriers to accessing confidential data. They set up and manage a secure computational research platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), to promote access to sensitive and confidential microdata. Since the organization was founded, they have worked with over 100 federal, state, and local agencies and trained over 500 agency staff. For more information on Coleridge, the ADRF, training programs, and events, visit: www.ColeridgeInitiative.org  ###