Robin Tepper Jacob

High 5s is a small-group math enrichment program, developed at the University of Michigan with the help of MDRC and leading early childhood math experts Doug Clements and Julie Sarama. Participation in the program closed almost a fifth of the achievement gap between low-income children and their peers. Working closely with teachers and schools in Taylor, MI, and New York City, NY, we hope to adapt, expand and then evaluate a more integrated and scalable version of the High 5s program.

The Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) is Michigan’s largest evidence-based statewide home visiting program for pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries and their infants. Despite evidence suggesting the program provides benefits for both parents and infants who participate, MIHP enrolled fewer than 30% of all pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries in the state. Of those who enroll, only approximately 60% fully participated in the program.  The Youth Policy Lab partnered with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to analyze administrative data (vital records, Medicaid claims, and MIH...

When early high-quality math instruction is aligned across grades, it can have a positive effect on children’s math skills, attitudes toward math, and working memory. However, evidence-based pre-K learning trajectories and instructional practices are not typically integrated into the curriculum for the early elementary grades. This lack of integration can have negative results: Children may encounter the same content more than once from pre-K to kindergarten through third grade. Conversely, the math instruction they receive may not cover the areas or progression of learning that research says ...