Birmingham Promise and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) have launched a new partnership to strengthen how student data are used to understand and support young people as they move from high school to college and careers.
Birmingham Promise grew out of an initiative launched under Mayor Randall Woodfin's administration and today supports students across the city through paid internships, full-tuition college scholarships, and college and career coaching. Since its launch in 2020, the organization has reached thousands of students in Birmingham City Schools.
The AIR Opportunity Fund is supporting the partnership as part of its work with communities to strengthen promising local ideas and build useful evidence around what works. Through April 2027, Birmingham Promise and AIR will focus on practical improvements: making student data easier to connect and use, helping staff get more from that information, and identifying the questions that matter most for understanding students' paths to college and careers.
"This partnership will allow us to take our data and impact to a whole new level," said Samantha Williams, CEO of Birmingham Promise. "While our programs are clearly helping students overcome entry barriers to college, the most important outcome is whether they successfully enter the workforce and earn the kinds of wages that support a thriving life. The American Institutes for Research will provide critical insights that will help us continually improve our programs for the benefit of students."