1. Using Evidence to Guide Social Policy and Spending Ron Haskins March 1, 2012

2. 2 Model of Factors that Influence Federal Legislation

3. 3 Obama/Orszag/Gordon Approach to Applying Evidence to Policy Choice 1.Priority to programs with strong evidence (random-assignment) 2.Evidence tiers; Innovation 3.Define “evidence-based” in statute, regulation, or funding announcement 4.All funded programs must have evaluation plan 5.Review panels make awards based on evidence and evaluation plan

4. 4 Four Approaches to Evidence-Based Policymaking Evidence-based grant making: –Fund programs supported by quality evidence –Funded programs feature continuous evaluation What Works Clearinghouses Systematic Review of Agency Portfolios Emphasis on Benefit-Cost Measurement

5. 5 Obama Evidence-Based Initiatives NameStatusFunding Investing in Innovation (i3)Grants Awarded (72 in first 2 years) $950 million (3 years so far) Home VisitingGrants Awarded (49 states; grantees within states) $1.5 billion (5 years) Teen Pregnancy PreventionGrant Awarded (102 in first year) $310 million (3 years) Social Innovation Fund (SIF)Grants Awarded (16 intermediaries; 138 sub-grantees in first 2 years) $50 million (Annually) Community College Challenge Fund Grants Awarded (32 in first year) $2 billion (4 years) Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF)Currently Soliciting Grant Proposals; Awards Winter 2012 $125 million (Annually)

6. 6 Obama Administration’s Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) $650 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Administered by U.S. Department of Education Local school districts and nonprofit organizations Evidence-based school reforms; Funding Priorities: –Support effective teachers and principals –Improve use of data –Implement high standards and high quality –Turn around low-performing schools Three-tiered structure of program funding: –Development grants (some plausible evidence) $5 million –Validation grants (moderate evidence) $30 million –Scale-up grants (strong evidence) $50 million

7. 7 Agency Portfolios Requires a respected budget agency with power to supervise administrative agencies Budget agency must devise systematic annual review process of intervention programs supported by administrative agencies Emphasis on clear goals, well-defined outcome measures, and standards of evidence Award additional funds to agencies based on outcomes