Research & Learning
Progress begins with learning. At WHEF, we study what works, share what we learn, and use that knowledge to strengthen how Mississippi supports postsecondary success.
At the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, research, evaluation, and learning are central to everything we do. We generate evidence from our own practice, study what’s working for others, and use those lessons to inform programs, grantmaking, and policy. This commitment allows us to continuously refine our approach and ensure that every investment we make contributes to real, measurable progress.
Our goal is to make learning actionable. WHEF builds systems to identify and incorporate evidence-based promising practices, enhances the way we gather and analyze data, and rigorously measures outcomes and impact. Through publications, convenings, and our biennial impact reports, we share these insights openly—because progress accelerates when knowledge is shared.
Key Focus Areas
Our work in research and learning is guided by four key focus areas that help ensure our efforts remain strategic, transparent, and impactful.
Evidence
Identify and integrate proven, evidence-based practices that strengthen postsecondary access, persistence, and completion.
Improvement
Continuously refine our activities based on lessons learned from our own work and from partners across Mississippi and beyond.
Measurement
Rigorously measure implementation and outcomes, tracking how our actions contribute to lasting impact across the state.
Dissemination
Share findings transparently with partners and the public—highlighting what worked, what didn’t, and how we can all do better.
Measurement and Evaluation
As a learning organization, WHEF is committed to measuring the results of its work—and to being transparent about what we learn along the way. Our evaluation framework is designed to assess how well our activities align with our Theory of Change and to track progress toward Mississippi’s statewide attainment goal, Ascent to 55%.
We measure both implementation quality and the outcomes that follow—examining how our efforts contribute to intermediate outcomes like college enrollment, persistence, and completion. These measures help us determine what’s working, where adjustments are needed, and how to sharpen our impact.
For WHEF, measurement isn’t about compliance; it’s about learning. Evaluation helps us understand not only how much impact we create, but also how we can do better—ensuring that every lesson moves Mississippi closer to its postsecondary goals.
“Learning is not something we do at the end of a project. It’s how we do the work itself. Every insight, every data point, every story helps us get closer to what’s possible for Mississippi.”
— Marie Roberts, WHEF Assistant Director of Communications, Policy, and Advocacy