About MDRC
Grossman is a research associate with more than five years of public policy research and project management experience. As the resource manager for several of MDRC’s postsecondary education projects, she provides day-to-day project management support; develops, maintains, and monitors work plans, expenditures, and budgets; and maintains communications with funders, consultants, and subcontractors. She currently oversees resource management needs for the entire Young Adults and Postsecondary Education Policy Area. Grossman also assists with random assignment processes and program sustainability and conducts implementation research for a variety of MDRC projects including Performance-Based Scholarships and the GED 21st Century initiative. Prior to joining MDRC, Grossman worked as a researcher for Public/Private Ventures’ Project Benchmark — conducting comprehensive literature research to identify meaningful outcome standards and service delivery strategies for workforce development organizations. She has also worked in nonprofit fundraising and grassroots lobbying. She received a master’s degree in public policy from The Johns Hopkins University.
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MDRC Publications
ReportFinal Report
September, 2014This report discusses a pilot project to prepare adult education students in New York City for the new more rigorous GED exam. Revised writing and math curricula were offered to thousands of students, but attendance was erratic. Shorter lesson sequences and support outside the classroom might allow more students to benefit.
BriefAn Introduction to the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration
October, 2009This policy brief describes a demonstration launched by MDRC in four states in 2008 to evaluate whether performance-based scholarships — paid contingent on attaining academic benchmarks — are an effective way to improve persistence and academic success among low-income college students. The demonstration builds on positive results from an earlier MDRC study in Louisiana.
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Other Publications
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Projects
Dan Cullinan, Amanda Grossman, Elizabeth Zachry RutschowToo many of the nation’s young adults struggle to obtain the educational credentials needed to be successful, productive members of society. When this study was under way, 39 million adults in the United States lacked a high school diploma or its equivalent; moreover, every year, more than 1.3 million students dropped out of high school. Roughly two-thirds of them...
Evan Weissman, Alexander Mayer, Amanda Grossman, John Diamond, Susan Sepanik, Dorota Biedzio Rizik, Elizabeth Zachry Rutschow, Elena Serna-WallenderAs community colleges try to increase graduation rates, one of the greatest challenges they face is improving the success of students in their developmental, or remedial, education programs. The Dana Center Mathematics Pathways ( DCMP ), formerly known as the New Mathways Project, was developed by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, in...
Colleen Sommo, Melissa Boynton, Michelle Ware, Cynthia Miller, Amanda Grossman, Alexander Mayer, John Diamond, Alyssa Ratledge, Jedediah J. TeresFor many low-income college students, one of the biggest barriers to attendance is cost. While federal and state financial aid is available to help with tuition, fees, books, and some living expenses, students still often have unmet need, particularly if they are from the poorest families or are independent from their parents. Working while going to school is one...