Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Policymaking: A 5-Year Vision for Colorado

Colorado is a recognized leader nationally in evidence-based policymaking. Consistent use of data and research is increasingly understood to be key to achieving policies that are equitable, efficient, and effective. The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab received philanthropic support to facilitate the development of a commonly accepted vision for Colorado’s approach to evidence-based decision-making (EBDM). […]

Colorado Prosecutorial Dashboards Newsletter: Issue 8

Last month, the 12th, 17th, and 21st Judicial District Attorneys’ (DA) Offices released their public facing dashboards, a huge step for enhancing transparency and advancing data-driven decision-making! These three offices joined the eight pilot offices, convening at the end of July to discuss their priorities for continued work.

Expanding the Reach of Prosecutorial Dashboards in Colorado

Three Colorado District Attorneys’ (DA) offices—the 12th, 17th, and 21st Judicial Districts—unveiled “data dashboards” last month. The dashboards are a publicly available resource designed to promote more effective, just, and transparent decision-making in prosecution. This expands the reach of the Colorado Prosecutorial Dashboards project, building on the initial eight Judicial Districts that unveiled data dashboards […]

New Measures of Success Guide: Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative

Efforts are well underway in Southwest Colorado to strengthen career and college pathways for rural students. This work is critically important with a mere 19% of students who attended high school in a rural community in the United States holding a college degree (see earlier blog post). The nonprofit Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SWCEC), initially […]

Colorado District Attorneys’ offices unveil “data dashboards”

On July 19, 2023, three Colorado District Attorneys’ (DA) offices unveiled “data dashboards,” a publicly available resource designed to promote more effective, just, and transparent decision-making in prosecution. The dashboards are an expansion of the Colorado Prosecutorial Dashboards project, with the 12th, 17th, and 21st Judicial Districts joining the eight Judicial Districts that unveileddata dashboards last fall. […]

Early Childhood Evaluation Hub: Early Childhood Workforce – Recruitment, Retention and Quality and Spotlight on External Research Partner, Marzano Research

Between 2021 and 2022, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood received over $700 million in stimulus funding to strengthen Colorado’s early childhood sector. The Colorado Lab is coordinating the Early Childhood Evaluation Hub, contracting with multiple evaluation teams to conduct high-quality evaluations of more than a dozen prioritized stimulus-funded activities to ensure the goals of […]

Stakeholders Inform Use of Research Evidence in Perinatal Policymaking

The Colorado Lab recently convened policy decision-makers and influencers to co-develop strategies that Colorado can adopt to support evidence-based decision-making and drive equitable outcomes in perinatal health for all families. The convening was the culminating event on a project exploring how to improve the use of research evidence in perinatal policymaking. Investing in families in […]

New Project: Food Security and College Completion

More than one-third of college students report food insecurity, and evidence increasingly suggests this may be a barrier to degree and certificate completion. The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) offers a way to deliver nutritional assistance to students, yet fewer than half of eligible students participate. The Colorado Lab and LINC are supporting a nearly […]

Family First Evidence-Building Hub: Annual Report & Spotlight on External Research Partner, Colorado Implementation Science Unit

Colorado’s 5-Year Family First Prevention Services Plan advances evidence-based programs and services to support child welfare-involved families with the goal of keeping children safe and more families together. The Colorado Lab leads the Family First Evidence-Building Hub on behalf of the Colorado Department of Human Services. We work with cross-system prevention partners to co-create a […]

Early Childhood Evaluation Hub: Expanding Child Care Programs and Spotlight on External Research Partner, Schultz Patel Evaluation

Between 2021 and 2022, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood received over $700 million in stimulus funding to strengthen Colorado’s early childhood sector. The Colorado Lab is coordinating the Early Childhood Evaluation Hub, contracting with multiple evaluation teams to conduct high-quality evaluations of more than a dozen prioritized stimulus-funded activities to ensure the goals of […]