At the core of DIR’s success over the past 35 years has been our partnerships with other research firms –both large and small – to conduct high quality research and evaluation, data collection, and technical assistance. We have deepened our partnerships as we joined teams which were awarded four new projects this year. These new projects are with four of our long-term partners– AIR, The Urban Institute, Mathematica and Abt Associates.
DIR and AIR will conduct Phase II of the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s evaluation of the Birth through Eight Strategy for Tulsa (BEST), a place-based initiative designed to alter the nurturing context of a distinct community. DIR will again join with the Urban Institute to conduct the Choice Outcomes Study – a five year follow-up with baseline study participants and other neighborhood residents to determine the impact of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative in five locales. Continuing our 30-plus year partnership with Mathematica, DIR will provide site recruitment, classroom observation video coding, and conduct a teacher survey for the Impact Evaluation of the Teacher Residency Professional Development program. We are also a part of Abt’s winning team to provide, through a Blanket Purchase Agreement, the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences with evaluations of strategies to improve the federal student aid system.
Partnership is key to the success of any business. DIR continues to bring value to our partners through our skilled staff, highly-developed methods and systems, small business status, and exceptional collaborative practices.