Carolyn Heinrich
University Distinguished Professor of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations | Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN, UNITED STATES
An expert in k-12 education public policy, economics, healthcare and impact of opioids on families.
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Biography
Carolyn J. Heinrich is a Professor of Public Policy and Education in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at the Peabody College and a Professor of Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Heinrich’s research focuses on education, workforce development, social welfare policy, program evaluation, and public management and performance management. She works directly with federal, state and local governments in her research to improve policy design and program effectiveness and also collaborates with nongovernmental organizations (such as the World Bank, UNICEF and others) to improve the impacts of economic and social investments in middle-income and developing countries. She received the David N. Kershaw Award for distinguished contributions to the field of public policy analysis and management in 2004 and was elected to the National Academy of Public Administration in 2011.
Areas of Expertise (12)
Public Policy Analysis
K-12 Education Policy
Nongovernmental Organizations
Social Welfare Policy
Opioids Impact on Families
Economics
Public Policy
Healthcare
Education
social investments
Workforce Development
Immigration
Accomplishments (2)
Best of UNICEF Research Award (professional)
For The South African Child Support Grant Impact Assessment
Beryl Radin Award for best article (professional)
Published in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory
Education (3)
University of Chicago: Ph.D.
University of Chicago: M.A.
Beloit College: B.A.
Affiliations (3)
- President-elect, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
- President, Public Management Research Association
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Links (4)
Selected Media Appearances (10)
Anderson County grade fixing scandal takes down principal, football coach
Tennessee Lookout online
2024-06-24
The online programs, purchased by county school boards, have been the subject of controversy in recent years for their lack of oversight by state education officials and the ease with which grades can be manipulated, according to Carolyn Heinrich, a professor of Public Policy and Education at Vanderbilt University.
Tennessee should invest in students' mental health needs over expanding school vouchers
Tennessean online
2024-05-03
The Tennessee state legislature has approved a state budget that includes $144 million to create a statewide school voucher program, which is no longer on the table for implementation this year. Although Gov. Bill Lee intends to pursue education freedom scholarships again next year, some of those funds could be allocated to cope with a financial crisis that will be looming for many school districts across the state when the next school year begins.
What are the top concerns parents have for their children in Tennessee?
NewsChannel 5 tv
2024-03-07
The results are in for the annual poll of Tennessee parents from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy. What are the top concerns parents have for their children? On this episode of MorningLine, Nick Beres is joined by Carolyn Heinrich, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Education at Vanderbilt and Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH, Pediatric Hospitalist at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to discuss their findings.
Tennessee parents don't feel safer about schools, nearly a year after Covenant shooting
Tennessean online
2024-02-12
“Schools across Tennessee are reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression among students and are responding by strengthening both academic and mental health supports available on campus for students,” said Carolyn Heinrich, professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University, and member of the Center for Child Health Policy.
Researchers examine mental health services in Tennessee schools
WKRN online
2023-06-13
“We’re seeing these issues in children at younger and younger ages. We had people in the field telling us that they’ve seeing children as young as kindergarten talk about suicide,” said University Distinguished Professor of Leadership, Policy and Organizations Dr. Carolyn Heinrich.
Nashville GRAD, Flex provide a pathway to success for community college students | Opinion
Tennessean online
2023-04-24
Nashville State Community College is seeing tremendous success with two programs that provide academic and financial supports to college students. The programs, Nashville GRAD and Nashville Flex, are garnering attention on the national stage for contributing to remarkable rates of student persistence in college. Providing resources to expand them would be a wise community investment for our city and state’s residents and workforce.
Credit recovery becomes key strategy for Detroit district’s graduation rate boost
Chalkbeat online
2023-03-28
Carolyn Heinrich, a professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University, found in her research into credit recovery programs that students least prepared academically were more likely to be set back by or struggle with online remedial courses, particularly those far behind grade level in core subjects.
5 Ways to Make Online Credit Recovery Work Better for Struggling Students
Education Week online
2022-06-07
The way districts design their online credit recovery systems can make a big difference in whether the programs provide needed support for struggling students—or just an empty credit. Here are five ways administrators can improve their online credit recovery programs, according to Carolyn Heinrich, a professor of public policy, education, and economics at Vanderbilt University and author of the study.
'Instilling confidence' in struggling students: A look inside Nashville's new tutoring program
Tennessean online
2022-03-31
When it comes to tutoring or remediation for students who are performing below expectations, how much tutoring a child gets matters, said Carolyn Heinrich, chair of the leadership, policy and organizations department at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College.
Vanderbilt poll: Mental health conversations are needed as children's screen time increases
NewsChannel 5 tv
2022-02-18
"Children’s screen time can have both positive and negative impacts on their knowledge and intellectual development," said Carolyn Heinrich, PhD, Patricia and Rodes Hart professor of Public Policy, Education, and Economics at Vanderbilt University. "For example, experimental research confirms the potential for positive effects of educational screen media on children’s cognitive development; however, if screen time for entertainment displaces educational uses, especially when children are learning to read, the net effect may be harmful."
Selected Articles (5)
A Look Inside Online Educational Settings in High School: Promise and Pitfalls for Improving Educational Opportunities and Outcomes
American Educational Research JournalCarolyn J Heinrich, Jennifer Darling-Aduana, Annalee Good, Huiping Cheng
2019 This research examines online course-taking in high schools, which is increasingly used by students falling behind in progress toward graduation. The study looks inside educational settings to observe how online courses are used and assess whether students gain academically through their use.
The role of teacher capacity and instructional practice in the integration of educational technology for emergent bilingual students
Computers & EducationJennifer Darling-Aduana, Carolyn J Heinrich
2018 This mixed methods study examines the extent to which the use, and intensity of use, of educational technology is associated with improved academic outcomes for English language learners (ELLs) in both English/Spanish bilingual and traditional English-only classrooms. We also explore the role of teacher capacity and practice in integrating educational technology by student population and instructional setting across six schools serving a student population of predominately low-income ELLs.
Informed practice improvements: exploring linkages between school district use of research evidence and educational outcomes over time
School Effectiveness and School ImprovementCarolyn J Heinrich, Annalee Good
2018 The field of education is progressively building capacity and tools for producing rigorous research evidence to use in improving educational practice and outcomes. The knowledge base is lacking, however, in explicating the dynamics of research-based decision making and exploring connections between the work of research–practice partnerships and changes in educational outcomes.
Presidential address: “A thousand petty fortresses”: Administrative burden in US immigration policies and its consequences
Journal of Policy Analysis and ManagementCarolyn J Heinrich
2018 Contradictory elements in U.S. immigration policy, reflecting a long‐time struggle between inclusionary and exclusionary views, have resulted in federal legislation filled with compromises and tradeoffs that, at state and sub‐state levels, play out in unclear interpretations and uneven, highly discretionary administration and enforcement of immigration law and policy.
Reducing adolescent risky behaviors in a high-risk context: the effects of unconditional cash transfers in South Africa
Economic Development and Cultural ChangeCarolyn J Heinrich, John Hoddinott, Michael Samson
2017 South African adolescents living in poverty are at significant risk for negative outcomes associated with risky sexual activity and substance use. The South African government introduced the Child Support Grant (CSG) to reduce poverty and provide protection from these risks. We use variation in grant receipt by age to estimate potential effects of this unconditional cash transfer program on adolescent outcomes.
