J-PAL North America

High-performing charter schools have been shown to ⬆️ test scores of low-income students—but what about longer-term outcomes? Researchers examined the impact of charter schools after six years:

The Medium-Term Impacts of High-Achieving Charter Schools in the United States | The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Researchers examined results of a school admissions lottery to measure the impact of charter school education on students after six years. They found that offering a charter education resulted in improved test scores, higher college enrollment, a reduction in specific risky behaviors, and no physica...

Publishing in a medical journal allows non-medical researchers to expand the reach of their study. This covers medical journal guidelines and requirements ✅ that may be unfamiliar to those who usually publish in the social sciences: https://j-p.al/zft

How can community colleges better support students in completing their degrees?

For , check out research from on the programs most effective at helping students persist in school and graduate 🎓

Reducing community college dropout through comprehensive supports Providing community college students with a wide range of comprehensive supports, such as counseling, tutoring, and financial assistance, can improve low rates of persistence and graduation. These support programs address many simultaneous barriers that students face, which may be a key driver behin...

A randomized evaluation in King County, WA found that transit subsidies 🚌 alone did not reduce rates of failure to appear in court.
Read more:

Can Transportation Subsidies Reduce Failures to Appear in Criminal Court? | The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Researchers partnered with local agencies in King County, Washington to evaluate the impact of providing transit subsidies on rates of FTA in court. While the study was disrupted due to Covid-19, the pilot results indicated that transit subsidies had little effect on reducing FTA.

Looking for practical guidance on planning an ? Check out these on Project Planning for advice on ethics and approval, power calculations, grant management, & more! https://povertyactionlab.org/research-resources

The second brief in our series of resources on evidence in housing and homelessness is live! 🛎️This brief summarizes the evidence on emergency financial assistance, also referred to as emergency rental assistance. Learn about the evidence: https://www.povertyactionlab.org/policy-brief/emergency-financial-assistance-efa

Questionnaire piloting provides critical information on how your survey works in the field and ensures you are collecting accurate data. 🗂 For detailed guidance on piloting your survey, take a look at these . https://www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/questionnaire-piloting

In order to evaluate the effect of a program, researchers need to make sure it is implemented as designed. Implementation monitoring can involve administrative data, site visits, or focus group discussions. 💬 Learn more in these . https://www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/implementation-monitoring

How did evidence from an in the US prompt legislative and administrative changes to expand for low-income families?

Read our Evidence to Policy story to learn more about how rigorous research led to meaningful housing policy reform 🏠:

Promoting housing choice to improve economic mobility Evidence from a flagship randomized evaluation in the United States prompted legislative and administrative changes to expand housing choice for low-income families.

⏰ Last chance! Applications for J-PAL North America’s Research Staff Training close June 12.

📍 Beverly, MA | Aug 4-6, 2026

💡 Build skills in experimental design, ethics, & data analysis
🤝 Join a global network of research staff

Spots are limited—apply now:
🔗

J-PAL North America 2026 Research Staff Training J-PAL North America will host its annual Research Staff Training (RST) as an in-person training designed specifically for research staff working on randomized evaluations. Sessions blend lectures, hands-on exercises, and peer learning.