Advancing Educational Equity: Tools for Evidence Building
In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mathematica developed a set of measurement and evaluation (M&E) tools to help education grantees generate evidence about their solutions (such as programs, practices, or products) to address education’s most persistent problems. To expand the reach of this work and promote the adoption of evidence-based solutions more broadly, we adapted the tools for use in many fields and by a diverse set of users—organizations, funders, research partners, and other interested parties. Keep reading to learn more about these tools and the M&E process or click on an icon below to jump to a step in the process. You can also download the complete toolkit.
What is the Measurement and Evaluation process?
Mathematica’s suite of measurement and evaluation (M&E) tools provides a road map for generating timely and actionable evidence about what works for whom, and in what context. Whether you are a developer refining evidence-based solutions, a funder exploring a great new idea, or a researcher, you can use these tools to promote rapid innovation and scaling of promising solutions.
Each step of the M&E process has tools to help guide you to a deeper understanding of your solution. There are built-in checkpoints to encourage users to pause and reflect on learning and to refine the solution and the M&E plan as needed.
Additionally, equity and community voice are a core principle embedded in the M&E process. Organizations should meaningfully engage communities across all steps to ensure the solution builds on the strengths and assets and meets the needs of the community they will serve.
For definitions of terms used in the tools, please refer to this glossary.
Step 1: Assess Measurement and Evaluation Needs and Interests

These tools introduce the iterative approach to evidence building and help organizations articulate their M&E goals, interests, and needs.

Introducing the evidence-building pipeline and development framework
Right-Sizing Research to Inform Design and Decision-Making, Part 1
In this video, Mathematica experts introduce an iterative approach to evidence building that they created to help organizations design, refine, and test solutions that seek to address educational and other social challenges.
Step 2: Plan Measurement and Evaluation
Step 3: Conduct Measurement and Evaluation

These tools assist organizations executing their M&E plan, including collecting the data needed to address each research question.
Rightsizing Research to Inform Design and Decision Making, Part 2
In this video, Mathematica experts introduce an iterative approach to evidence building that they created to help organizations design, refine, and test solutions that seek to address educational and other social challenges.
A Case Study
Rightsizing Research to Inform Design and Decision Making, Part 3
In this video, Mathematica experts provide a deep dive into each of the five measurement and evaluation criteria that are part of an evidence-building pipeline they developed to support organizations, research partners, and funders develop, refine, and test solutions.

Measurement and Evaluation Criteria
Step 4: Analyze and Report Results
These tools guide organizations through the final step of the M&E process, which includes analyzing collected data, determining next steps, and reporting the findings.
Related Staff
To connect with one of our experts on this project or to get more information about these tools, please send an email to info@mathematica-mpr.com.