MarGrady Research provides a range of services to schools, districts, and other organizations dedicated to improving public education, including:
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKS
Description
We work collaboratively with districts to design and implement performance frameworks based on multiple quantitative and qualitative criteria that can be used to evaluate and improve schools.
Example
We helped a charter school in the Bronx design a ‘Whole Child Accountability System’ to track its student academic growth and development of non-cognitive skills.
POLICY AND PROGRAM EVALUATION
Description
We help districts and foundations design and implement rigorous quantitative evaluations of new policies and programs. We specialize in using quasi-experimental methods to evaluate programs, in cases where Randomized Controlled Trials are impractical or infeasible.
Example
We used a Comparative Interrupted Time Series regression analysis to assess the impact of a personalized math curriculum on student standardized test scores.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Description
We support school districts in developing annual budgets, benchmarking expenses against other districts, and identifying cost-saving initiatives that can move resources to the classroom.
Example
We led a team to develop a responsibly balanced budget for a large midwestern school district with chronic financial problems. We helped the leadership team define its priorities and allocate resources in accordance with those priorities.
DASHBOARDS
Description
We design and build customized data dashboards that help schools and districts monitor their performance on a daily, weekly, and annual basis. These dashboards combine publicly available data from the federal and state education departments with up-to-date administrative data from school districts.
Example
We helped an educational foundation build a dashboard to monitor the performance of the schools to which it gave grants.
DATA STRATEGY
Description
We help our clients develop a data strategy that works for them. This includes the collection of raw data from internal systems and external sources, the storage and documentation of data, and the development of processes for maintaining, updating, and using data to support their mission.
Example
We built a research database for the Analytics Team at a large urban district. We worked with the team to define their major needs, mapped out the data model, and wrote code to transform raw data into usable analytical files.
ANALYTICAL SUPPORT
Description
We supplement districts analytical capacity for complex and/or quick turnaround projects.
Example
We’ve helped a state education department measure the degree of segregation in its public schools, used GIS analysis to assist a district in assessing the impact of school closures on student well-being, and worked with an education school to track the performance of its graduates. If it involves analyzing data and helping students, we’re interested!