Causal Research on the Impacts of K-12 School Policies
Causal Research on the Impacts of K-12 School Policies supports researchers studying the causal effects of state-influenced education policies to guide decisions that improve student outcomes at scale.
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Funder: Arnold Ventures
Due Dates: November 13, 2026 (LOI) | December 18, 2026 (Proposal invitations) | January 31, 2027 (Invited full proposals) | March 31, 2027 (Estimated award notification)
Funding Amounts: Requests should reflect study scope and timeline; preference for completion within 18 months and/or actionable findings by the end of 2028
Summary: Supports rigorous causal research on state-influenced U.S. K-12 policies with potential to improve student outcomes at scale.
Key Information: Studies must evaluate state-level policy decisions, not the effectiveness of an individual curriculum in isolation.
Description
Arnold Ventures’ Evidence & Evaluation team supports studies estimating the causal effects of actionable, politically viable U.S. K-12 education policies that can be influenced at the state level. The program seeks evidence that helps policymakers distinguish appealing reforms from those that meaningfully improve students’ lives. Its priorities are curriculum, assessments, and accountability; school choice and governance; and teacher and school leader policies.
Competitive studies use rigorous causal methods and, where feasible, administrative data to examine both short-term educational outcomes and longer-term postsecondary or labor market outcomes. Research should offer a clear pathway from evidence to policy or practice at scale. Arnold Ventures particularly values timely findings that can inform state policymaking, while also encouraging medium- and long-term measurement to assess whether initial effects persist.
