A joint research center of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research
Youth Policy Lab
Helping community and government agencies make better decisions by measuring what really works.
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The relationships we develop with our partners are very important to our work. Getting to know them, hearing the challenges they are facing, and then providing them with information to help them better address the needs of the young people and families they serve is incredibly rewarding.
Brian and Robin Jacob
YPL Faculty Co-Directors & Founders
Learn about Brian and Robin Jacob and other members of the YPL team
Research
Areas of Focus
YPL cultivates partnerships with state and local government agencies, school districts, nonprofits, and other policy-making institutions that are positioned to make change and committed to improving outcomes for youth and families. We engage our partners by focusing on the questions they want answered so they can make decisions informed by data and research.
Featured Impact Areas
Our Impact
YPL applies our expertise to co-design research experiments and program evaluations to provide robust answers to our partners’ questions. YPL translates complex information into clear, accessible insights. We then offer research-based recommendations to improve participation and outcomes and share our findings to influence both policy and practice.
Learn more about our work
Youth Policy Lab evaluates programs and interventions designed to improve post-secondary educational outcomes. By rigorously analyzing data and assessing various strategies, we identify effective means to address educational barriers and increase the...
Public education is one of the foundational principles of American society and youth spend a significant amount of their lives in schools. But access to a high quality education remains uneven, with disparities impacting educational opportunities and...
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