How can reentry systems better support people returning to their communities later in life after decades of incarceration? A new AIR brief explores the experiences of those incarcerated as youth and highlights factors that can support successful reentry. https://bit.ly/45d8DhM

A strong IEP can be a powerful tool for helping students with disabilities succeed. Through a six-year partnership in CT, AIR helped strengthen IEP quality statewide, training 9,148 educators and building sustainable systems for improvement. https://bit.ly/4hNUVJy

Strong health systems need strong leaders. A new AIR Opportunity Fund-supported blog highlights how Global Health Corps is helping emerging public health professionals build leadership skills, expand their networks, and grow their impact across Africa. https://bit.ly/4xbANWi

Before July ends, catch up on the latest from AIR. This month's newsletter highlights our work strengthening registered apprenticeship pathways and shares new insights on healthcare quality, disability inclusion, workforce development, and education. https://icont.ac/51klN

What happens when researchers and policymakers come together? Thoughtful conversations about the issues shaping communities across the country. Thanks to everyone who connected with AIR at #NCSLsummit. We're leaving Chicago energized by the ideas and partnerships ahead!

Attending #NCSLsummit in Chicago this week? Stop by Booth 4743 to connect with the AIR team and learn how evidence can help address your state’s biggest policy challenges. Want to meet with one of our experts? Schedule a time with us: https://forms.gle/bsaJhQAkVcotS3jt6

From caregiver support and overdose trends to new treatment options and adolescent behavioral health research, the latest AIR Health News highlights developments shaping health care, policy, and outcomes across the country. https://icont.ac/51knT

#NCSLsummit 2026 is almost here. If you’ll be in Chicago July 27–29, visit AIR at Booth 4743 or schedule time with our policy experts to talk through evidence-based guidance for your state’s most pressing challenges: https://forms.gle/bsaJhQAkVcotS3jt6

States need solid cost data to make informed early childhood decisions. AIR’s new ECE cost resources help leaders estimate costs, evaluate investments, and support access, quality, and sustainability. https://air.org/resource/spotlight/early-childhood-cost-and-finance

Skills-based hiring starts with a simple question: What skills actually matter? AIR and the @natlgovsassoc.bsky.social Center for Best Practices are helping states answer that question with a more rigorous, evidence-based approach. Read more from Gauri Rege: https://bit.ly/4ywhCrG

Skills-based hiring starts with a simple question: What skills actually matter? AIR and the @natlgovsassoc.bsky.social Center for Best Practices are helping states answer that question with a more rigorous, evidence-based approach. Read more from Gauri Rege: https://bit.ly/4ywhCrG

AIR will be at the @ncslorg.bsky.social #NCSLsummit 2026 in Chicago July 27–29. Visit Booth 4743 or schedule time with our experts to discuss using data and evidence to tackle complex policy challenges facing states and communities: https://forms.gle/bsaJhQAkVcotS3jt6

How do you sustain and grow Registered Apprenticeship programs? Our new impact story shares how we work to strengthen apprenticeship systems, expand opportunities in emerging industries, and create stronger pathways into high-growth careers. https://bit.ly/4fDKnLA

A new AIR study examines the systems shaping out-of-school-time (OST) programs across Chicago. Learn what we found, including actionable opportunities to expand access to high-quality programs for youth: https://www.air.org/project/chicago-out-school-time-landscape-study

Chicago Out-of-School Time Landscape Study | American Institutes for Research

In 2025, AIR partnered with the Steans Family Foundation to conduct a landscape study of out-of-school-time policy, funding, and system priorities in Illinois to inform planning considerations for a more integrated OST system.

air.org

AIR’s Joseph Wilson appeared on CONNECTED by @TaiwanPlus News to discuss the importance of teaching young students how to responsibly use #AI. “Elementary students are already asking a ton of questions,” Wilson said. Watch the interview: https://bit.ly/3RAcq5s

AI Is the Future, So When Should AI Literacy Start for Kids? | CONNECTED AI & Innovation

YouTube video by CONNECTED on TaiwanPlus

youtu.be

What if farmers had better access to timely, actionable data? AIR’s new Ethiopia project is exploring how data-driven resources can support everyday decisions in agriculture. More on the wheat chatbot: https://www.air.org/project/empowering-ethiopian-farmers-data-driven-resources

Frequent school changes can disrupt learning for students in foster care. What’s working to improve stability—and where challenges remain? Read more in ECS from AIR's Niu Gau: https://www.ecs.org/stabilizing-education-opportunity-for-students-in-foster-care/

Stabilizing Education Opportunity for Students in Foster Care

Maintaining stability is key to improving student access to quality educational opportunities, especially for students farthest from opportunity.  But

ecs.org

AIR state education policy experts will be in Washington, DC July 8-10 for the ECS #NationalForum. They will lead discussions on estimating early childhood education costs and helping schools navigate emerging challenges related to AI in classrooms. https://2026nationalforum.vfairs.com/

🎆 Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July as the U.S. marks its 250th birthday! 🎆

New: Understanding the NAEP SES Index from NCES’ Focus on NAEP series. The article explains how the index was built and how it adds context to 2024 Nation’s Report Card results. AIR research helped make it possible. 🔗 https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/focus_on_naep/articles/#/ses

What happens when youth help design the research about their own experiences? Our latest blog shares lessons from partnering with youth researchers—and why it leads to stronger, more meaningful findings. https://www.air.org/resource/blog-post/designing-research-youth-what-it-takes-do-it-well

What does Workforce Pell mean in practice? AIR’ Sudie Whalen breaks down key insights ahead of July 1—and resources to help simplify expansion. 🔗 https://www.air.org/resource/workforce-pell-expanding-access-short-term-job-training

As workforce needs evolve, AIR and the ACCE Foundation are working together to define key employability skills—and turn them into tools employers can use to hire and develop talent more effectively. https://www.air.org/project/defining-assessing-and-developing-core-employability-skills

This month’s AIR Health News explores affordability trends, prevention advances like a newly approved sunscreen ingredient, and emerging public health concerns—including alcohol use during pregnancy. Read more: https://icont.ac/51jjQ

As colleges expand corequisite remediation, new evidence shows a more complex picture. Research from AIR’s Zeyu Xu and Ben Backes finds: 🔹Variation by subject 🔹Limited math impacts 🔹Outcomes partly shaped by course-taking patterns More in @brookings.edu: https://bit.ly/4w4xGyP

New Kentucky research complicates the corequisite course consensus in higher education | Brookings

Zeyu Xu and Ben Backes find corequisite remediation helps in English but falls short in math, complicating the field's consensus.

bit.ly

How are education and workforce systems evolving? Our latest AIR newsletter shares research, insights, and updates, and what they mean for policy and implementation: https://icont.ac/51jdD

People with disabilities represent a major—and often overlooked—consumer market. New AIR research finds $674B+ in disposable income and $106B in discretionary spending. Explore the data: https://www.air.org/project/unlocking-purchasing-power-people-disabilities

“Connecting the Dots” at CCSSO's #NCSA2026 starts today. AIR experts are looking forward to conversations about aligning assessment and accountability systems to improve outcomes. Find AIR at booth #108 and learn more about our work: https://bit.ly/4w3xSOL

How can educators make informed decisions about AI tools? AIR is studying what works, what doesn’t, and what educators should know before adopting AI in the classroom. https://air.org/project/evaluating-and-comparing-ai-tools-teachers-what-works-and-what-doesnt

Workforce Pell Grants will soon support short-term workforce training. Beginning July, eligible 8–15 week programs can open new pathways to in-demand careers. See how AIR is supporting states: https://air.org/resource/workforce-pell-expanding-access-short-term-job-training