The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, an independent, nonpartisan organization, recently identified Career Academies, the popular high school reform that combines academics with career development opportunities, as meeting a “top tier” evidence standard of effectiveness, based on MDRC’s long-term evaluation of the program model.

MDRC’s study of Career Academies shows that the programs produced sustained employment and earnings gains eight years after scheduled graduation, particularly among young men. Career Academy participants were also more likely to be living independently with children and a spouse or a partner.

According to the Coalition, several recent Congressional actions seek to focus funds in certain federal social programs on models and strategies meeting “top tier” evidence of effectiveness — that is, those “that have been shown, in well-designed randomized controlled trials, to produce sizeable, sustained effects on important … outcomes.” To assist federal agencies, grantees, and others in implementing these provisions effectively, the Coalition has launched an initiative to identify and validate models and interventions meeting this evidence standard.

The Career Academies model joins three other interventions that the Coalition has identified that meet the “top tier” criteria: the Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, the Nurse-Family Partnership, and Success for All (for grades K-2).

The Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and has no affiliation with any programs or program models. Funding for this project is provided by the MacArthur Foundation and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.