Author Archives: Patrick Lester

Report Finds Evidence Clearinghouse Gaps and Challenges

The nation’s major evidence clearinghouses are heavily used but need further improvement to be more useful to frontline practitioners, funders, and policymakers, according to a report released April 10 by Results for America and Bridgespan. Nationally, the report reviewed 36 … Continue reading

Posted in Evidence

Bipartisan Senate Education Bill May Advance Evidence-based Policy

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a bipartisan bill yesterday that, if enacted, would substantially rework the nation’s principal K-12 education law, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and may pave the way for significant advances for evidence-based … Continue reading

Posted in Education

Home Visiting Reauthorization May Not Be Automatic

Legislation reauthorizing the Maternal, Infant, and Early-Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, whose authority expired March 31, may not be as certain as previously thought, according to a story yesterday in National Journal. The bill containing the MIECHV extension (H.R. 2), … Continue reading

Posted in Home Visiting

Congress Recesses, Home Visiting Extension Delayed

Congress left Washington Friday for its Easter recess without adopting legislation that would reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early-Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program beyond March 31, when its current legal authorization expires. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed an … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Home Visiting

A Republican View of Evidence: An Interview with Congressman Todd Young

This is the first in a series of interviews with influential Republicans and Democrats in Congress about evidence and innovation issues. Congressman Todd Young (R-IN) is seen as a Republican leader on social welfare issues. He is the second-ranking Republican … Continue reading

Posted in Evidence, Politics, Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success

Proposed Senate Budget Suggests Possible Evidence-based Child Welfare Bill Later This Year

The proposed Senate budget resolution for the coming fiscal year, released March 18, includes a section that would pave the way for consideration of an evidence-based, spending-neutral child welfare reform bill later this year. Section 306 of the resolution (full … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families

Britain Announces Seven New Social Impact Bond Projects

After what may have been perceived as a retreat from social impact bonds last year, when its groundbreaking Peterborough project was replaced with a new program, the British government today announced seven new social impact bond projects. (Hat tip to … Continue reading

Posted in Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success

Home Visitation Program May Be Extended 6 Months

Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced March 17 that he has cosponsored legislation along with Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) that would extend authorization for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program (MIECHV) through September 30. The extension, if adopted, … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Home Visiting

House Hearing on Evidence and Social Policy Influenced By Partisan Budget Divisions

A bipartisan congressional hearing devoted to increasing the use of evidence in social policy appeared to be influenced by partisanship elsewhere on Capitol Hill Tuesday, as congressional Republicans released a new budget proposal that drew immediate criticism from Democrats. The … Continue reading

Posted in Evidence