Examines the first results of Virginia’s welfare reform waiver experiment that began in 1995, finding that it quickly increased employment relative to what it would have been under pre-welfare-reform policies, although the effects differed by site.

Explores whether propensity score methods produce unbiased estimates of program impacts, by comparing experimental and propensity score impacts of dropout prevention programs. Finds no consistent evidence that they do--even when the data available for matching are extensive. Suggests that...

The No Child Left Behind Act called for the U.S. Department of Education to conduct a national study of the effectiveness of educational technology. The study identified reading and mathematics software products based on prior evidence of effectiveness and other criteria and used an experimental...

Describes the design of an evaluation to study key outcomes for people with disabilities who participate in innovative state projects that promote employment, particularly those who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. The strategies involve different...

Systematic reviews are a useful tool for decision makers because they identify relevant studies about the effectiveness of a policy or program of interest, assess the quality of the evidence from the relevant studies, and summarize the valid findings. Mathematica's Center for Improving Research...

Examines the experiences of families that reached the time limits in early 1998, during the first six months after their benefits ended, finding that most parents worked, and many worked steadily, but primarily in low-wage jobs. The study found almost no evidence of major hardship, such as...

Describes the data processing protocol required to implement an impact evaluation of 12 state projects that the Social Security Administration funded to test new strategies for promoting employment for people with disabilities. Discusses the way in which SSA administrative data were used to 1)...

Examines the first results of Virginia’s welfare reform waiver experiment that began in 1995, finding that it quickly increased employment relative to what it would have been under pre-welfare-reform policies, although the effects differed by site.