Ira Nichols-Barrer

Ira Nichols-Barrer’s research focuses on education as well as international democracy and governance. He conducts large evaluations of school choice policies and practices, in addition to evaluations in developing and post-conflict countries.

Nichols-Barrer is leading the evaluation design and analysis for a project to assess the accessibility and usability of school choice information for school-age-children’s parents. He is also a lead technical reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education’s Regional Educational Laboratories, which partner with school districts, state departments of education, and others to use data and research to improve academic outcomes for students, ensuring products are policy-relevant, methodologically sound, and clearly written. He managed complex data collection efforts and led rigorous analyses for a national study on the effectiveness of Charter Management Organizations, a nationwide evaluation of KIPP middle schools, and an evaluation of KIPP’s efforts to scale up under an Investing in Innovation grant. His international work includes designing and implementing a rigorous evaluation of education interventions in the Republic of Georgia, and evaluating programs to strengthen civil society, civic participation, media, and the justice sector in Rwanda.

Prior to joining Mathematica, Nichols-Barrer worked with the Jameel Poverty Action Lab, the Government Accountability Office, and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He holds an M.P.P from Harvard University and is a referee for Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and the Journal of School Choice.