Uttara Balakrishnan is a senior research economist at AIR with over ten years of experience designing, implementing, and reviewing complex and challenging mixed methods impact and performance evaluations and formative research in developing countries using quantitative and qualitative methods. She specializes in quantitative methods and has extensive expertise in econometric ...
Evidence plays a critical role in designing and implementing approaches that accelerate learning and provide all students with equal access to a quality education. This blog post describes some of what AIR has learned about the approaches in the federal agenda.
Income inequality is substantial for people 65 and over, but less pronounced than it would be without Social Security and Medicare. A new brief offers a look at what the distribution of financial resources would be like in their absence, and addresses how proposed changes should be analyzed.
AIR evaluations of two federally funded initiatives aimed at revamping chronically low-performing schools in Massachusetts found that students in both programs improved their scores in state tests of English language arts and mathematics. While both programs resulted in widespread improvement, AIR’s evaluations found particularly strong increases in achievement among students ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented American families with extraordinary challenges. Alarming rates of anxiety and depression symptoms are among the most troubling. In this Q&A, Frank Rider and Kelly Wells discuss the implications for families, schools, and communities.
AIR’s work in civic learning draws on the diverse content and methodological expertise of AIR staff and the collaborations we form with clients and partners. Our research and technical assistance cuts across several areas of civic learning.
Through the Department of Ed’s Office of Academic Improvement, the 21st CCLC program “supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children.” AIR researchers and technical assistance consultants have a unique connection to and history of making contributions to the program. ...
Elisha DeLuca serves as project director for the Violence Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Center (VPTAC). She provides oversight and direction for the project; serves as the primary point of contact for the client; manages the work plan and budget, oversees the work of all team members, and processes and ...
Thomas de Hoop directs a research and evaluation portfolio with a focus on the impact, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of self-help groups, savings groups, and education innovations in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health issue, especially in Africa and South-East Asia. In addition to visual impairment, the lack of vitamin A in children significantly increases the risk of severe illness and even death from common infections such as diarrhea and measles. AIR is working with the ...