Author Archives: Patrick Lester

HUD Announces Eight New Promise Zones

The Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a second round of winners under the Obama administration’s Promise Zones initiative. Eight new Promise Zones were added to the five that were announced in January, 2014. The new Promise Zones … Continue reading

Posted in Collective Impact

Hatch, Bennet Introduce Social Impact Partnership Bill

Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation (S. 1089) that would establish a 10-year, $300 million federal program for state and local pay-for-success projects, also known as social impact bonds or, in the bill, as … Continue reading

Posted in Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success

Will Congressional Bipartisanship Pave the Way for Evidence-based Policy Changes?

The New Republic is the latest news outlet to note that Congress has suddenly become more productive. The window of bipartisanship, however temporary, may pave the way for important advances in evidence-based policy. In an article by Danny Vinik, the … Continue reading

Posted in Politics

Arnold Foundation Launches Evidence-Based Policy and Innovation Division

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation today announced the creation of a new Evidence-Based Policy and Innovation division that will be headquartered in Washington, DC.  The division will be led by Kathy Stack, a former OMB official who led its … Continue reading

Posted in Evidence, Philanthropy

Ryan, Murray Reintroduce Bipartisan Evidence-based Policymaking Commission Bill

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) today reintroduced legislation (H.R. 1831 / S. 991) that would establish a bipartisan commission to make recommendations to Congress and the president on how best to expand the use of data … Continue reading

Posted in Evidence

Promise Zone Tax Breaks May Not ‘Hold Water’ With Ryan

Tax incentives like those proposed by the Obama administration for its Promise Zones initiative may be unlikely to be enacted outside a broad effort at tax reform. According to a story in Roll Call: Both parties have, in the past, … Continue reading

Posted in Collective Impact

Senate Panel Approves Education Innovation Proposal to Replace i3

The Senate HELP Committee today approved legislative language that would replace the Investing in Innovation (i3) program with a new, bottom-up education alternative. The bipartisan amendment, offered by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), was approved by voice … Continue reading

Posted in Education

Clinton Will Emphasize Children, Education, and Income Inequality As Campaign Issues

Hillary Clinton, widely viewed as the prohibitive favorite for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasized early childhood issues, education, and income inequality as central campaign issues during a stop in Iowa yesterday. Clinton announced her candidacy on April 12. At … Continue reading

Posted in Politics

Congress Approves Home Visiting, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Extensions

By a vote of 92-8, the Senate approved legislation April 14 that will reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early-Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program through September 30, 2017. The bill also extended authorization for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs and the … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Home Visiting