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The Readiness Projects: Leveraging Science to Support the Readiness of Youth, Adults, Systems, and Communities

Project

Emerging cross-discipline science findings from neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and more contribute to a powerful body of work informing learning and development. These sciences validate what families and professionals have long known about the critical nature of relationships and learning conditions; and now brings new urgency and evidence to our work.  This convergent set of information illuminates the optimal human development periods—early childhood and adolescence—when we must act with intention and care.

The Forum for Youth Investment, the National Urban League, and AIR have united to devote our time, resources, and perspectives to stimulate equity-driven solutions and policies grounded in evidence.

The Readiness Projects will bolster work that supports the readiness of youth, adults, systems, and community leaders by finding ways to test the utility of recent science findings and inform efforts to improve quality, to increase engagement, and to advance equity.

The partners will focus on projects that:

  • Advance “stickier” narratives about how the science of learning, development, and thriving can be used to advance equity agendas.
  • Amplify the voices of youth and community leaders focused on these experiences and ask them how the findings can support their agendas.           
  • Assert the essential role of all adults in all settings—when, where, and with whom learning happens—and prioritize efforts to recognize and support them.
  • Articulate the need to advance the idea of a “thriving youth” field (similar to early childhood) to align work within and across systems and solutions.
A Formula for Youth Success (PDF)
Thriving, Robust Equity, and Transformative Learning & Development: A More Powerful Conceptualization of the Contributors to Youth Success (PDF)
The Forum for Youth Investments: The Readiness Projects
Youth Fields Workforce Survey (PDF)
Summer. Learning. Loss. Leadership. (Medium)
Afterschool and Summer Learning Systems Rise to the Challenge of Summer Learning in 2020 (Medium)

Related Work

15 Jan 2021
Spotlight

Spotlight on the Science of Learning and Development

The science of learning and development (SoLD) is a cross-disciplinary body of knowledge that describes how people learn and develop. AIR is part of the SoLD Alliance, which serves as a resource to connect and support leaders in research, practice, and policy to transform America’s education systems and achieve equity and excellence.
Image of middle school students working on science project
2 Nov 2020
Q & A

A Quick Word with Jill Young on the Readiness Projects

The Readiness Projects—a partnership of the Forum for Youth Investment, the National Urban League, and AIR—advances work informed by science and grounded in practice. In this Q&A, Jill Young, senior researcher at AIR, discusses how the Readiness Projects can support equitable opportunities for thriving youth.
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Image of Deborah Moroney

Deborah Moroney

Vice President
Image of Jill Young

Jill Young

Senior Researcher

Topics

Education
Afterschool and Expanded Learning
Equity in Education
School Climate and Safety
Social and Emotional Learning
Youth-Serving Systems

Related Resources

The Science of Learning and Development in Afterschool Systems and Settings
Bread and Roses Too

Related Projects

The Potential of Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) to Transform Education Systems

RESEARCH. EVALUATION. APPLICATION. IMPACT.

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