American Institutes for Research

All Americans want great schools, affordable, high-quality health care, safe neighborhoods, and good jobs. For nearly 80 years, AIR has been a trusted, objective partner to support federal, state, and local governments in meeting the needs of American citizens. From evaluating the quality of nursing homes to making air travel safer and more accessible to improving education so our students can compete globally, AIR has been committed to generating evidence that supports decision-making on programs and policies across the U.S. and during 15 U.S. presidential administrations. We look forward to continuing that work today and into the future. https://lnkd.in/g8usBSef

The CTE Research Network 2.0 is accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Training Institute, which will be held virtually August 4–8 (please note the new dates). This intensive training will build the capacity of researchers to plan and conduct high-quality studies of CTE programs, practices, and policies. Participants will learn from experienced CTE researchers and experts in research methodology. There is no cost to attend. Applications close May 8, 2025. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/e2n3C__A

What is the extent of fraud and abuse in #Medicaid, and how do state Medicaid programs ensure program integrity when going after fraud? How much fraud and abuse in Medicaid is related to improper payments? Experts including AIR SVP Tim Hill will participate in a virtual event hosted by KFF to discuss these questions and more. Register to join the event on Thursday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET. https://lnkd.in/gt9PQvQm

77% of youth workers feel a strong commitment to their field, and over 40% started their careers by age 25. The new The Wallace Foundation #PowerofUsSurvey synthesizes responses from thousands of youth-serving mentors, coaches, afterschool workers, and more about why they entered the field, how they are supported in their work, and challenges they face. https://lnkd.in/ebyg8XxK

AIR Experts will be sharing their knowledge and research at the upcoming American Educational Research Association (#AERA2025) and National Council on Measurement in Education (#NCME2025) annual meetings, both taking place April 23-27 in Denver. Our researchers will contribute to discussions on critical topics such as school finance; the application of artificial intelligence in education; secondary education pathways; leveraging machine learning for data-driven decisions; advancing civic learning and engagement; and more. Connect with #AIRatAERA in our sessions and at booth #507 in the Colorado Convention Center to learn about the latest evidence and insights that can help inform decision-making and improve learning outcomes. https://lnkd.in/gbxUzMcn

How can we make career advancement more attainable for everyone, especially those with busy lives? And how can companies access the skilled talent they need more efficiently? A new case study from AIR explores these questions and shares an AI-powered Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) as a promising solution. By offering personalized, flexible learning, ITS aims to break down barriers to upskilling, ultimately leading to a more skilled and adaptable workforce. It's a look at how innovative technology can drive positive change in workforce development. https://lnkd.in/gQ79wp38

When students start to fall behind, early support can make all the difference. AIR’s Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS) helps schools spot warning signs like #absenteeism or failing grades and act before small setbacks become serious barriers. With tools and training from AIR, schools across the country are boosting graduation rates, reducing course failures, and helping more students stay on the path to success. Learn how: https://lnkd.in/g-kfqGCa

Financial literacy is essential for navigating adulthood, yet many students leave school unprepared. Our new case study explores some of the challenges and highlights our work with states and districts to strengthen financial education standards, evaluate effective programs (like The Stock Market Game), and bring global insights to the U.S. Learn how we're collaborating with states and schools to build better tools and teaching methods so students gain the #FinancialLiteracy skills they need to thrive. Learn more during #FinancialLiteracyMonth: https://lnkd.in/gx7Zbekk

Youth sports offer incredible benefits for young people, fostering social skills, motivation, leadership, mental health, and academic performance. But many coaches lack key youth development training. Early data from the Million Coaches Challenge shows training builds coach confidence (93%) and may boost athlete retention (71%). See what we've learned so far from our implementation study of the #MillionCoachesChallenge, a five-year project from the Susan Crown Exchange that aims to train one million coaches in essential youth development skills by 2026: https://lnkd.in/geGzhKby

A Statement from Jessica Heppen, President & CEO of the American Institutes for Research (AIR): The changes occurring in the federal government bring significant challenges for many federal contractors, including AIR. While we remain hopeful and committed to being a trusted partner for the U.S. government’s information and evidence needs, we also must acknowledge that the landscape of federally funded research is changing quite drastically. For that reason, we made the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our workforce by another 10% last week. Combined with actions taken in March, AIR has reduced its workforce by about 26% over the past month. The staff that have departed AIR made substantial contributions to our organization and our field. We deeply appreciate their work and dedication and wish them the very best in the future. We have taken these difficult actions to align our staffing levels with our current and future revenue and to position our organization for growth. AIR has been around for almost 80 years, and, in that time, there have been moments when we have had to make changes and shift priorities to align with the needs of our clients and the communities we serve. This is one of those moments, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to generating and using evidence to improve lives and increase opportunities for all.