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NORC at the University Chicago

Debbie Kim

Pronouns: She/Her

Senior Research Scientist
Education & Child Development
Debbie brings over 15 years of experience in the design and execution of research projects from the national to local levels.

Debbie uses institutional and organizational theory lenses to study the field of education policy. In particular, she studies policymaking and implementation, organizational decision-making, and access. Throughout her work, Debbie focuses on social inequities and the ways educational policies support or hinder more equitable outcomes for youth.

Prior to joining NORC, Debbie worked as a dual postdoctoral scholar with Northwestern University and Tulane University. At Northwestern University, Debbie worked for the National Center for Research in Policy and Practice studying the ways that district leaders draw on research and data in their instructional decision-making. At Tulane University, she worked on America’s first randomized control trial of a free college scholarship intervention. In addition, Debbie has worked as a research analyst for SRI International’s Center for Education Policy where she contributed to projects analyzing a broad range of policy issues such as the teacher labor market, arts education, and professional development.

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Expertise

Education

PhD

Northwestern University

MA

Northwestern University

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

San Francisco State University

BA

University of California in San Diego

Project Contributions

Assessing Distance Learning for the Bureau of Indian Education

Understanding how best to reach and teach students who lack broadband service

Client:

Bureau of Indian Education

Combatting Pandemic Learning Loss

Providing data-driven insights to reduce COVID’s impact on STEM learning

Client:

National Science Foundation

Engaging Youth for Positive Change Program Evaluation

Evaluating whether a civics education curriculum helps improve rural community health outcomes

Client:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Generation Citizen Evaluation

Evaluating how the innovative curriculum affects student learning, motivation, and engagement

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences

Kauffman Scholars Evaluation

Analyzing the ripple effect of a 20-year-old college scholarship and mentorship program in Kansas City

Client:

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Evaluation

Examining the effects of the LSAMP program on students and schools

Client:

National Science Foundation

STEM Learning Opportunities Before & After COVID-19 School Closures

Examining COVID-19’s impact on high school math and science course trajectories

Client:

National Science Foundation

Understanding What Matters in the School Choice Process

The first comprehensive review of all text data from Great Schools, a popular school review website

Client:

Institute of Education Sciences

Washington State K-12 Civics Education Survey

A mixed-methods data collection effort to thoroughly understand how Washington teaches civics

Client:

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Publications

Research Library & Findings