SPR’s work in education research helps funders, policymakers, and practitioners make informed decisions about their investments. We have conducted evaluations all along the education pipeline—from early childhood education to postsecondary schooling and job training—and for clients ranging from the U.S. Department of Education to nonprofit organizations and foundations. Using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, we focus on identifying effective practices, deriving lessons for future application, and clearly describing the challenges that need to be addressed.
Project Spotlight: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Washington State Strategy Local Proof Points Evaluation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Washington State Strategy
SPR is conducting a formative and summative evaluation for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Local Proof Points initiative, under its Washington State Strategy. This initiative funds local improvement networks, including diverse actors from local schools, pre-K, and out-of-time providers working collaboratively in the school and community ecosystem, grounded in family engagement and racial equity, to improve student success.
To learn more about the design and implementation of local networks and partnerships as they unfold, and their resulting outcomes, SPR is engaging local stakeholders—including community members, school staff, district leaders, families, students, early learning providers, and out-of-school learning providers—through surveys and interview. In addition, SPR is leveraging existing and new data sources to understand resulting shifts in learning environments, adult capacity, and student outcomes, primarily in math and social-emotional learning. Throughout this process, SPR is providing formative feedback to network stakeholders on the quality and strength of their networks, and surfacing lessons learned to inform future efforts.
Learn More
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Washington State Strategy website
