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NORC at the University Chicago

Cynthia M. Simko

Associate Director
Education & Child Development
Cynthia has over 20 years of experience in grant and federal research project management, survey design, recruitment, and data collection methods.

Her primary area of expertise is in survey development, PreK-12 and post-secondary multi-mode longitudinal and cross-sectional projects, and multi-mode qualitative and quantitative data-collection methods. The latter include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, computer-assisted personal interviewing, pen-and-paper personal Interviewing, and web-based interviewing.  

Cynthia has overseen a range of large- and small-scale research and evaluation efforts, successfully applying a variety of research methods and non-response mitigation strategies to achieve desired response rates. Under subcontracts to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), and funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, Cynthia currently serves as the NORC project director for the National Study of Special Education Spending (NSSES) Foundational Phase. She also serves as the project manager for the  Evaluation Training and Technical Assistance Center (ETAC) project, funded by the Department of Defense.

Cynthia has made significant contributions to a number of other NORC projects such as the National Evaluation of Title III, Comprehensive Literacy Program Evaluation (CLPE), High School Experience Survey, Delaware COVID-19 Contact Tracing Project, National Education and Attainment Survey, the Impact of Comprehensive Support and Improvement Designation in Multiple Measure ESSA Accountability Systems study, School Effectiveness in Indiana study, School Improvement Status and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities Study, the National Longitudinal Study of No Child Left Behind, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Cohort, the Survey of Earned Doctorates, and the Survey of Doctorate Recipients.

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Expertise

Education

MA

DePaul University

BA

DePaul University

Project Contributions

National Education and Employment Study

Seeking a better understanding of postsecondary work-related education, training, and credentials

Client:

Lumina Foundation

National Study of Special Education Spending: Foundational Phase

Providing crucial national data on special education spending across districts and schools

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences

Comprehensive Literacy Program Evaluation

Assessing whether grants to promote youths’ reading and writing are having an impact

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences

National Assessment of Educational Progress

Assessing whether the NAEP, used to gauge learning progress, can also measure college readiness

Client:

National Assessment Governing Board

School Effectiveness in Indiana Study

Examining what works for the state’s public, private, and charter schools

Client:

University of Notre Dame; University of Kentucky

National Education & Attainment Survey

Understanding the education and training experiences of adults

Client:

Lumina Foundation

Survey of Education Attainment

Exploring the impact of both accredited and non-accredited training programs

Client:

ECMC Foundation

High School Experience Study

Exploring the long-term impact of early college high schools on workforce and life outcomes

Client:

American Institutes for Research

National Evaluation of Title III Implementation

The nation’s first study of how Title III grants are used to support English learners

Client:

Institute for Education Sciences

Evaluation Training & Technical Assistance for the Department of Defense

Evaluation training, TA, and rigorous evaluations of DoD prevention of sexual assault and other harmful behaviors

Client:

Department of Defense

Evaluation Training & Technical Assistance for the Department of Defense

Evaluation training, TA, and rigorous evaluations of DoD prevention of sexual assault and other harmful behaviors

Client:

Department of Defense

Evaluating the U.S. Military’s Sexual Assault Prevention Programs

Rigorous evaluation of five initiatives aimed at preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault

Funder:

U.S. Department of Defense

Chicago Scholars Randomized Controlled Trial

Impact study of a program supporting postsecondary success for students facing barriers to college completion

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education

Publications

Research Library & Findings