School Readiness
Create strong foundations for early learning.
Meghan McCormick
Senior Officer, Research & Impact
I believe it’s critically important for resources to be spent on what actually works for students and educators. As a funder of both programs and research, our Foundation has a unique opportunity to not only fund new innovations, but also rigorously test them and report our findings to the field.
Meghan McCormick, Senior Research & Impact Officer, leads the Foundation’s investments and support for research and evidence-building. She brings over 15 years of experience as a social science researcher, with past research examining how school- and home-based programs and policies influence children’s development and ameliorate the negative effects of poverty on child and family well-being.
Meghan was previously a Senior Research Associate at MDRC, a social and education policy research organization. In this role, she served as Principal Investigator on numerous studies that aimed to estimate the impacts of Pre-K, home visiting, social-emotional learning, and family support programs on outcomes for children and families.
Meghan holds a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology and Quantitative Methods from New York University and a B.A. in Public and International Affairs (cum laude) from Princeton University. She lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband and two young children and enjoys running, traveling, and reading novels.
Blog Posts by Meghan McCormick
Research
Our 2026 Research Strategy
We’re expanding our investments in research, data, and evidence to generate more rigorous, timely insights that can inform decision-making.
Research
What We’re Learning: Advances in Technology for Improving Professional Learning, Curriculum Implementation, and Student Impact at Scale
Grantee research highlights how technology, when used thoughtfully, can strengthen PD, support curriculum implementation, and amplify learning at scale.
Research
Five Studies That Inspired Our Thinking in 2025
Meghan McCormick reflects on the past year of evidence in education, highlighting five standout research studies that inspired our thinking in 2025.
Research
What We’re Learning From Our Investments in Reducing Chronic Absenteeism
We share early lessons from five studies focused on generating actionable insights to boost attendance from Pre-K through high school.
Perspectives
The Science of Reading and Play Go Hand-in-Hand. Schools Must Make It Happen
Meghan McCormick and Carly Roberts make the case that play doesn’t have to compete with explicit reading instruction.
Perspectives
You’ve Paid for Tutoring. Here’s How to Make Sure It Works.
Pete Lavorini and Meghan McCormick analyze the latest tutoring research, with questions educators should consider to ensure these programs deliver on their promise.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: Reimagining the Teaching Role by Investing in Strategic Staffing
As schools grapple with increased teacher burnout and stalled student achievement, strategic staffing models may offer a path forward.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: The Role of Curricula and Professional Learning in Improving Pre-K Quality
Meghan McCormick examines the important role high-quality instructional materials and professional learning play in strengthening Pre-K programs.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: Investing in Formative Assessment to Improve Teaching & Learning
Meghan McCormick outlines the body of evidence behind high-quality formative assessments and their impact on student learning.
Research
Our 2025 Research Strategy
In 2025, we’re continuing to make targeted investments in rigorous evaluations, field-building research, and large-scale data projects that can help guide the field.
Research
5 Studies That Informed Our Thinking in 2024
Meghan McCormick highlights five studies that significantly impacted our team’s vision for the future and influenced our thinking.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: Investing in Innovative Tutoring Approaches To Boost Student Achievement
Research points to the potential value of high-impact tutoring for supporting learning recovery at scale, but key challenges remain.
Perspectives
Generative Artificial Intelligence May Help Teachers. Does It Work for Students?
Meghan McCormick examines what we know about the impact of genAI on education, calling for rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of what’s being used in schools.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: Investing in Family Engagement Programs That Work
Right now, there’s a critical need to identify effective approaches to strengthen family-school partnerships—starting with investments in evidence-based solutions.
Research
Spotlight On Evidence: The Role of Curriculum-Based Professional Learning in Boosting Student Achievement
High-quality instructional materials (HQIM) matter for student learning, but these materials alone are not enough—how they are implemented matters.
Perspectives
Latest Debate on Pre-K Ignores the Impact of High-Quality Curricula and Aligned PD
Meghan McCormick dives into the body of evidence on the impact of Pre-K, urging states and districts to follow the research when investing in early childhood education.
Research
An Update to Our Foundation’s Research Strategy
We’re refreshing our Foundation's research strategy informed by what we’re seeing across the education landscape and hearing from our grantee partners.
Research
2023 End-of-Year Research Update
We share the results of 15 grantee research efforts that concluded at the end of this year.
More Team Members
Megan
Muneeb
Manager, Grant Systems & Administration
Nia
Padilla
Executive Assistant, Executive & Office Operations
Elaine
Perez
Director, People & Operations
Jon
Sotsky
Senior Director, Strategic Impact & Learning
Brittany
Sullivan
Senior Officer, Communications
Ginna
Carroll
Secretary
Laura
Overdeck
Co-Founder
Tanya
Sheehan
Treasurer
