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

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 ###