This website remains available as a historical record of materials developed during the December 2021–January 2026 Promise Neighborhoods technical assistance contract. Please note that this site is no longer actively updated. For the most current information, visit the U.S. Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods (PN) webpage.

Results by Term: K-12 Academic Performance

Addressing the Impact of Trauma on Academic Performance and School Attendance

Author: PolicyLink | Year of Publication: 2016

Exposure to a traumatic event places a young person at risk of a lower reading proficiency, a lower grade -point average, and more days of school absences. Throughout their lifetimes, many young students living in underserved communities will experience one or more traumatic events, putting them at risk of chronic absenteeism and lower academic proficiency. 

Postsecondary Success in Promise Neighborhoods

Author: The Center for the Study of Social Policy | Year of Publication: 2016

This promising practices guide is a resource for Promise Neighborhoods as they work to improve postsecondary outcomes for students.

Using Data to Make a Difference for Boston-Area Students at Risk of Homelessness

Author: Urban Institute | Year of Publication: 2016

This blog entry is a grantee spotlight on how a Boston-area Promise Initiative uses data to promote academic success and fight homelessness.

Making Good on a Promise: Working to End Intergenerational Poverty in Kenilworth-Parkside

Author: Megan Gallagher, Brittany Murray, Maia Woluchem, Susan J. Popkin | Year of Publication: 2015

The DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI) is on a mission to end the cycle of intergenerational poverty in Kenilworth-Parkside, a geographically isolated community in Northeast Washington, DC. By partnering with local organizations to provide targeted, data-driven interventions to youth and parents, DCPNI is working to improve educational, economic, health, and socio-emotional outcomes within a community plagued by the effects of concentrated poverty.

Preparing and Fielding High-Quality Surveys: Practical Strategies for Successfully Implementing Neighborhood and School Climate Surveys in Promise Neighborhoods

Author: Kaitlin Franks Hildner, Elizabeth Oo, Peter A. Tatian | Year of Publication: 2015

This document builds on earlier guidance on preparing and administering surveys in chapter 7 of Measuring Performance: A Guidance Document for Promise Neighborhoods on Collecting Data and Reporting Results. The document also expands on lessons learned from the experiences of Promise Neighborhoods implementation grantees to provide practical guidance on how to prepare and manage high-quality neighborhood and school surveys. 

Continually Improving Promise Neighborhoods: The Role of Case Management Data

Author: Mary Bogle, Sarah Gillespie, Christopher Hayes | Year of Publication: 2015

This report summarizes how to review case management data in the context of a Promise Neighborhood’s strategy, particularly its theory of change and results framework. Although written based on experience gained working with Promise Neighborhoods, the guidance can be adapted to similar place-based and comprehensive change efforts.

Promoting Academic Proficiency in Promise Neighborhoods

Author: PolicyLink | Year of Publication: 2015

Academic achievement is vital to children's educational attainment and economic well-being. The Promise Neighborhoods Institute at PolicyLink hosted this webinar to discuss best practices and approaches to improve academic proficiency rates in Promise Neighborhoods communities (Government Performance and Results Act indicator 4 per previous 2013 guidance). The webinar features the following experts:

  • Sherry Taubert, Project Director, Berea Promise Neighborhood
  • Christina Theokas, Ph.D., Director of Research, Education Trust

School Readiness and Promise Neighborhoods

Author: First 5 LA | Year of Publication: 2015

This presentation explores school readiness research and the best practices and trends affecting school readiness. It also introduces First 5 LA's Early Childhood Education strategy.

From Cradle to Career: The Multiple Challenges Facing Immigrant Families in Langley Park Promise Neighborhood

Author: Molly M. Scott, Graham MacDonald, Juan Collazos, Ben Levinger, Eliza Leighton, Jamila Ball | Year of Publication: 2014

With estimates predicting that immigrants and their children will account for most U.S. population growth over the next four decades, it is critical to understand how to build ladders of opportunity for these families. This report assesses the needs of Langley Park, an immigrant neighborhood outside Washington, DC. Langley Park families are resilient but experience substantial hardships that may stall the progress of subsequent generations. At six crucial life transitions, children lag behind on indicators of future success.

Promise Neighborhood Target Setting Guidance

Author: Sarah Gillespie Ellis and Peter Tatian | Year of Publication: 2014

Promise Neighborhood implementation grantees are required to set and submit baselines, actual performance data, and targets for each Government Performance and Results Act indicator and for all 5 years of the grant program. While grantees were required to address targets in their applications, these targets were set before complete baseline data were available at each site and before the following publication was released: “Measuring Performance: A Guidance Document for Promise Neighborhoods on Collecting Data and Reporting Results.” This continuing guidance identifies several data sources, considerations, and methods sites may consider when setting targets.