Youth Policy Lab

“Is student debt hampering the housing recovery?” No, says Dynarski in Brookings

May 4, 2016

“The striking gap in homeownership is not between college-educated people who did and did not borrow, but between those with and without a college education,” writes Susan Dynarski in “The dividing line between haves and have-nots in homeownership:...

Dynarski in NYT Upshot, "How to use tax credits to increase college attendance"

Apr 19, 2016

Susan Dynarski’s latest New York Times Upshot contribution explores “How to use tax credits to increase college attendance.”“Taxpayers will file for $20 billion in tax credits for college expenses they paid in 2015, but while those who get [the...

In Brookings, Dynarski investigates effects of slashing student loan interest rates

Apr 14, 2016

Susan Dynarski considers the effects of student loan interest rates in “What does cutting rates on student loans do?” The piece appears in Evidence Speaks, a weekly publication of the Brookings Institution's Center on Children and Families. Dynarski...

Dynarski in Sunday NYT, why talented black and Hispanic students can go undiscovered

Apr 9, 2016

Susan Dynarski’s economic view, “Why talented black and Hispanic students can go undiscovered,” was published in this Sunday's New York Times. “Public schools are increasingly filled with black and Hispanic students, but the children identified as...

News

Apply now to inaugural Detroit Data Fellowship and use stats for social impact

Mar 30, 2016

Want to use your data skills to develop solutions to social challenges facing the city of Detroit? The Detroit Data Fellows Program is a two-year, full-time post-graduate fellowship during which participants work with city agencies to analyze...

News

Michigan Radio interviews Brian Jacob about latest research on MI high school curriculum reforms

Mar 9, 2016

Last week, Brian Jacob, Susan Dynarski and two colleagues from Michigan State released a new paper, "Are expectations alone enough? Estimating the effect of a mandatory college-prep curriculum in Michigan." The paper examines the effect of the 2006...

Dynarski in NYT Upshot: We need to get students across the finish line to graduation

Feb 22, 2016

The United States has a college dropout crisis, says Susan Dynarski in her latest New York Times Upshot piece.While 60 percent of the population now goes to college, more than a quarter of these students drop out with no credential, she says. And...

Robin Jacob quoted in NPR story on executive function coaching

Feb 2, 2016

A story on the NPR website, “The Science of Getting Kids Organized,” looks at coaching students to build executive function—categories of skills the brain uses for general organization and judgment. Robin Jacob, who published an overview of studies...

Sue Dynarski on the startlingly poor performance of private school vouchers

Jan 28, 2016

In “When winners are losers: Private school vouchers in Louisiana,” Susan Dynarski describes a newly released study of the impact of Louisiana’s private school voucher program, which provides students from low-income families and low-performing...

Forbes highlights Dynarski Brookings paper, dispelling student loan default myth

Jan 14, 2016

In a new paper for Brookings, "The Trouble with Student Loans? Low Earnings, Not High Debt," Susan Dynarski debunks the popular notion that more student debt leads to higher student loan default rates.In fact, research shows that default rates are...

Ford School faculty, alum make Education Week list of top 200 policy, practice influencers

Jan 6, 2016

Ford School faculty members David Cohen, Susan Dynarski, and Brian Jacob made the 2016 RHSU Edu-Scholar list of the top 200 U.S.-based university scholars, “who are doing the most to influence education policy and practice.”The list, which was...

Brian Jacob, Sue Dynarski, and members of the Education Policy Initiative stand along the winding main staircase of the Ford School's home, Weill Hall

Chronicle of Higher Ed recognizes Susan Dynarski among top ten influencers, agitators of 2015

Dec 14, 2015

Susan Dynarski is among the top ten influencers and agitators recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education for shaking up higher ed “in the classroom, on campus, and beyond.”In “Sensible Explainer,” the Chronicle’s Beckie Supiano lauds Dynarski’s...

Brian Jacob on harnessing the value of ‘failure’ in education research for Brookings' Evidence Speaks

Dec 10, 2015

In Harnessing the value of ‘failure,’ Brian Jacob describes the high “failure rate” in educational intervention research trials and what can be done to learn more from null results. Jacob’s piece appears in Evidence Speaks, a weekly publication of...

Brian Jacob to use behavioral nudges to encourage teacher retention at high-needs MI schools

Dec 2, 2015

Brian Jacob, professor of economics, education and public policy at the University of Michigan, was awarded a $486,501 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to study the relationship between behavioral nudges and intrinsic motivation.Jacob,...

Brian Jacob co-authors op-ed criticizing proposed mandatory retention in Michigan schools

Oct 30, 2015

In an op-ed titled "Why rush to hold kids back?" published by The Detroit News on October 29th, Brian Jacob and Michael Lombardo applaud a new state legislature bill proposing Michigan’s first comprehensive reading program.“One provision in the...

Dynarski named NASPAA "Public Service Matters" Spotlight Award recipient

Oct 21, 2015

Professor Susan Dynarski has been named a recipient of the "Public Service Matters" Spotlight Award by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) for her ongoing work on college affordability and student debt....

Susan Dynarski honored by Michigan for tackling barriers to education for low-income youth

Oct 8, 2015

On September 21st, State Representative Adam Zemke, State Senator Rebekah Warren, and Governor Rick Snyder honored Professor Susan Dynarski with a special tribute from the state for her work on the HAIL (High Achieving Involved Leaders) Scholarship...

“No, student borrowers don’t need to worry about loan market turmoil” writes Dynarski

Oct 2, 2015

In “No, student borrowers don’t need to worry about loan market turmoil,” published by the New York Times Upshot on September 29, 2015, Susan Dynarski explains why concerns that financial market turmoil will put student borrowers at risk are...

Dynarski describes the merits of new FAFSA process in New York Times op-ed

Sep 29, 2015

Last week, in her New York Times Upshot piece on higher education policy, Professor Susan Dynarski outlined a critical change in federal financial aid.According to the new rules, students hoping to begin college in September 2017 can file the FAFSA...

Education Policy Initiative informs new pilot scholarship designed to enhance diversity at U-M

Sep 17, 2015

Last weekend throughout the state, an estimated 1,000 economically disadvantaged high school students with high GPAs and ACT scores found a major opportunity in their mailboxes from the University of Michigan. The students received a customized...

Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity

Nov 29, 2023, 6:30-8:00 pm EST

Literati Bookstore 124 E. Washington St. Ann Abor MI 48104

Literati Bookstore is proud to welcome Laura Meckler to present and discuss her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. This event is presented in collaboration with Wallace House Center for Journalists, Education Policy Initiative, Center for Racial Justice, Youth Policy Lab, and The Department of English Language and Literature at The University of Michigan.

author laura meckler holding her book dream town: shaker heights and the quest for racial equity

United States general election 2022

Nov 8, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EST

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Key dates and deadlines for the November 8 election, plus how to register and vote.

Voting booths with Ford School votes written on top

EPI Speaker Series

The on-going evaluation of a volunteer tutoring program for struggling readers

Sep 29, 2022, 12:00-12:50 pm EDT

1210 Weill Hall

Professor Tepper Jacob's talk will tell the story of an on-going evaluation of the Reading Partners program, a successful one-on-one volunteer tutoring program that serves struggling readers in elementary schools serving students from families with low-income

Michigan primary election

Aug 2, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EDT

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Michigan will hold its primary election on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and the Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

Michigan May 2022 regular election

May 3, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EDT

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Michigan will hold a regular election on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, and voters may have measures or candidates on their local ballots. The Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

2022 Ford School Commencement

Apr 30, 2022, 4:30-6:15 pm EDT

Elbel Field

The Ford School is proud to celebrate the achievements of the graduating classes of 2022!

Admissions

Tools for influence and action

Nov 15, 2021, 12:00 pm EST

Learn about opportunities to practice social science research and quantitative analysis skills in and out of the classroom and how they provide a toolbox of research, analytical, and management skills that are highly transferable across sectors and issue areas.