Addressing Early Warning Indicators: Interim Impact Findings from the Investing in Innovation (i3) Evaluation of Diplomas Now

MDRC and ICF International are conducting an independent, experimental evaluation of the impact and implementation of Diplomas Now. Sixty-two secondary schools in 11 school districts agreed to participate in this study between 2011 and 2013. Thirty-two of these schools were randomly assigned to implement the Diplomas Now model while the other 30 schools were assigned to a control group, continuing their existing school programs or implementing other reform strategies of their choosing. Two prior evaluation reports focused on the first two years of Diplomas Now implementation. This third report shares interim impact findings for those years, paying particular attention to attendance, behavior, and course performance outcomes of students in sixth or ninth grade, their 
transition year into middle or high school — the first-year impacts of a multiyear program.