Our Services
We design, and research, evaluate.
Our work focuses on approaches that reduce gaps in academic attainment, improve student career outcomes, and increase feelings of connection and belonging among students and adults. We are always open to new lines of inquiry.
Design
Our services help organizations design and redesign programs.
We ground our work in a user-centered approach, helping organizations create, pilot and implement programs. Along the way, we assess needs and collect data about what works and what doesn't. With an eye toward sustainability, we support organizations with implementation and adult learning through coaching and training.
Our design services include:
User-based program design and redesign
Adult learning, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement
Implementation support, coaching, and training
Identifying program goals; strategically aligning resources and activities
Research
Our research, evaluation, and policy analysis work is rigorous and practical.
Using rigorous methods, we conduct a range of research and analysis projects. Our focus areas are collaborative research and evaluation designs that help organizations learn from emerging and innovative practices. We also help organizations develop better data collection tools and analysis routines.
Our research services include:
Research, evaluation, and needs assessments
Literature review, policy analysis, and landscape analysis
Identifying measures and routines for ongoing learning
Focus groups, surveys, and data to highlight improvement areas or promising practices
Featured Projects
Evaluation: Postsecondary success
Improving college retention
Starting in 2025, Fig is working with Longwood University to evaluate a multi-year effort to improve college retention for their students with the greatest gaps: 1st generation college students and BIPOC students. We will be looking at the efficacy of a new set of student supports, which start the summer before enrollment, and a new early warning system.
Research: K12 access to quality options
Understanding family experience of education choice
In 2024, Fig Education conducted interviews with families who are using Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for their child(ren) with disabilities. The project will result in a report that centers the experience of families attempting to navigate this opportunity, highlighting their perception of the benefits and challenges of using ESAs. This project is being conducted with the Center on Reinventing Public Education.
Program Design: K12 teacher success
Facilitating co-design sessions
During the 2023-24 school year, Fig designed and facilitated a co-design process to help the Schaberg New Teacher Support Program (NTSP) develop novel ways to support new teachers. We gathered information about new teacher needs and facilitated a series of co-design sessions with early career teachers to redesign induction support. This work is affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University.
Research: K12 student and teacher success
Promising practices in whole-school wellbeing
Fig Education and Datability Education Consulting studied how two public charter schools in Washington State cultivated student and staff wellbeing. We worked in close collaboration with school leaders to select and study six promising practices. The two-year project (2022-2024) resulted in reports to guide replication at other schools. We also identified how system leaders can create the conditions for whole-school wellbeing.
Program Design: Postsecondary success
Designing an innovative approach to college retention
We worked with social health nonprofit SeekHealing to expand their services to youth-serving organizations. SeekHealing offers peer-based support for individuals experiencing mental wellness and substance abuse challenges. Fig Education designed and piloted a peer support intervention that teaches trauma-informed communication skills to students at a community and technical college. We also helped the organization adapt their curriculum to high school-aged youth.
Implementation & Evaluation: K12 career readiness
Expoloring STEM careers in middle school
Fig Education was an education and research consultant with Luminary Labs. The organization led efforts to accelerate aerospace and cybersecurity career exploration in middle schools. We supported stakeholder facilitation in eight cities across the country and evaluated results of the year-long accelerator.
Research: Postsecondary success
Expanding stackable credentials
Working with WGU Labs, we conducted stakeholder interviews to pressure test an initiative within a state's community and technical college system. We offered recommendations for introducing industry and micro-credentials in existing credit and continuing education pathways.
We want to learn with you.