UMDI supports K–12 education and youth development initiatives by helping organizations understand what works and what can be improved, plan strategically, and align and leverage resources in ways that sustain impact over time. Through program evaluation, strategic planning, fund development support, and more, UMDI can help your organization center equity and learning to achieve lasting results for young people.
Featured Projects
Community Asset Assessment for Youth Engagement in Amherst, MA
UMDI was engaged by the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts, to complete a comprehensive assessment of engagement opportunities for local young people in grades 6-9 and utilize the data to determine areas for improvement. After a full inventory, UMDI compiled an interactive map of organized activities for Amherst’s middle school youth, which is now available as a planning resource for Town officials and staff as they plan for a future Youth Empowerment Initiative.
Program Design and Evaluation for The Care Center
The Care Center is a nonprofit organization in Holyoke, MA, that helps young mothers and low-income women to continue their high school education after dropping out. For more than 20 years, UMDI has provided The Care Center with planning, program design, evaluation, and grant writing services.
Massachusetts School Building Authority
UMDI has been working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) since 2019 to analyze and improve the authority’s school district enrollment projections. For this work, UMDI conducted a review of the data sources and methodology used by MSBA in their enrollment projections to identify areas for improvement and to explore enhancements to the model. A further engagement with MSBA that began in 2024 is looking into the effects of major school construction (new schools and additions) on district enrollment in greater detail.
AP STEM and English Evaluation
DESE’s STEM Advanced Placement Access Expansion Opportunity was a federally funded, statewide initiative designed to increase Massachusetts student participation—particularly in underrepresented populations—in advanced placement coursework. UMDI served as the evaluator of the program since its launch, prioritized the interrelated goals of monitoring and assessed key metrics of program implementation and impact, facilitated continuous program improvement, and promoted organizational learning for both DESE and participating schools/districts.
Supporting Services
Program Evaluation
UMDI supports program evaluation efforts across the full program lifecycle, from design to planning to implementation. Our collaborative approach ensures that our assessments generate evidence-based recommendations that improve outcomes.
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Strategic and Operational Planning
UMDI supports administrators and leaders to clarify mission and goals, align strategy with resources, and make informed choices in complex environments.
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Population Projections and Demographic Analysis
UMDI works independently with organizations across the country to apply population estimates and demographic analyses within a range of contexts, such as working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to analyze and improve the authority’s school district enrollment projections.
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