MIT Blueprint Labs

At Blueprint Labs we use data and economics to uncover the consequences of policy decisions and improve society.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

How did Indiana charter schools affect student test scores during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?

New research by Blueprint Labs grantees finds evidence that charter school students outperformed their traditional public school peers post-pandemic: https://t.co/KhCV2eM5cU

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

A recent @Chalkbeat article summarizes research from Blueprint Affiliate @cqcampos on how families in Los Angeles respond to receiving school quality information.

Read the article: https://t.co/XWR9B9AvkD

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

📢 Blueprint Labs is looking for a Policy and Communications Associate!

The Associate will support Blueprint’s policy initiatives and communicate technical research findings to policymakers, practitioners, and general audiences.

Apply now: https://t.co/XVx8CXyQ9a

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

In the last challenge session for the 2025-26 SAQ cohort, Celina Haile led a discussion on NYCPS’ efforts to address over-enrollment in Special Education programs and how to ensure access and inclusion for all students.

Thanks to Celina and all the Fellows who participated!

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

How can decisions made by Organ Procurement Organizations—nonprofits that coordinate organ recovery from potential donors—lead to more organ donations?

New work by Blueprint Co-Director @agarwaln_econ and co-authors examines OPOs’ decision-making.
https://t.co/aRSLcx62gF

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

At the event, Blueprint Directors @prof_parag and @metrics52 and Affiliate Clemence Idoux presented research on school quality and family preferences. Many thanks to @QualityCharters and all the speakers, facilitators, and authorizers who made this an engaging event.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

Blueprint Labs hosted the NACSA Leaders Program during a 3-day event at MIT this week, where charter school authorizers joined presentations and discussions to advance their understanding of research and how to use evidence in their work.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

In May’s School Access and Quality Fellowship webinar, Blueprint Affiliate @jmb112485 presented recent research on how item-level standardized test score data may provide useful information beyond what aggregate test scores tell us.

Read the research: https://t.co/kDNuqRG3UJ

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

Which policies can improve educational attainment the most? In a new working paper, Blueprint Director @prof_parag and co-authors examine two approaches: changing who attends existing schools and changing which schools exist.

Read the research: https://t.co/rGXxbWg3M0

[MIT Stone Center on Inequality & Shaping Work @MITshapingwork]

📢 We're on Substack!
Subscribe to our newsletter, The Work Ahead.
The first post explores recent research from @davidautor & co-authors on what makes new work different from more work — and why new work is a key force offsetting the effects of automation.
https://t.co/LaPbFmcZ6W

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

What makes new work different from more work? In a recent working paper, Blueprint Co-Director @davidautor and co-authors examine how jobs in new work differ systematically from more jobs in existing occupations.

Read the research: https://t.co/wI4ffUXxHg

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

In April’s challenge session, Blueprint Labs School Access and Quality Fellows discussed school performance visualization and how to make data more transparent at every school. Many thanks to @Brenton_Stewart for leading this engaging discussion.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

Many thanks to the participants and speakers who joined the 2026 Charter Collaborative Conference, a two-day event that convened charter researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss emerging findings and how to translate those findings into policy and practice.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

In the final panel of the Charter Conference, Blueprint Director @prof_parag, Kimberly Steadman of Brooke Charter Schools, Rich Berlin of @wearedream, and Alison Bagg of Massachusetts DESE discussed how to translate charter school research into policy and practice.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

Harvard Professor of Economics Raj Chetty gave the keynote address at Blueprint’s Charter Conference, sharing lessons learned from his experience translating research on economic opportunity into policy impact.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

This morning at the Charter Conference, leaders in the charter school space Shavar Jeffries, Brent Bushey, and Nella García Urban shared their perspectives on the Charter School Research Collaborative’s emerging findings.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

At Blueprint’s Charter Conference, Charter Collaborative grantees Matteo Magnaricotte, Chris Torres, and John Singleton shared early findings from their research on tutoring, long-term charter effects, and charters’ impacts on traditional public schools.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

In a panel discussion at Blueprint’s Charter Conference, Blueprint Director @prof_parag facilitated a conversation between Karega Rausch, Pablo Villavicencio, and Noor Iqbal on how today’s political context shapes research priorities and opportunities.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

At the Charter Collaborative Conference, Blueprint Director @metrics52 presented early insights from MIT’s ongoing charter school research. Brenda Cora and Orin Gutlerner shared perspectives from two standout schools from Blueprint’s data, Noble Schools and Bridge Boston.

[MIT Blueprint Labs @BlueprintMIT]

Today marked the first day of Blueprint’s 2026 Charter School Research Collaborative Conference, a two-day event for key stakeholders to reflect on the Collaborative’s first two years, explore emerging findings, and develop strategies for translating research into policy change.