Who we are
About Us
Our Mission
The New Jersey State Policy Lab assists the State of New Jersey and its many communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of state policies and programs by conducting rigorous, evidence-based, nonpartisan research that considers equity, efficiency, and efficacy of public policies and programs in holistic and innovative ways.
The State Policy Lab is housed in the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of New Jersey’s leading comprehensive public research university, Rutgers University – New Brunswick and run as a partnership between the Bloustein School and the School of Public Affairs and Administration in Rutgers-Newark. It leverages input from a robust network of multidisciplinary scholars, members of the community, and outside policy experts in New Jersey to craft innovative and equitable policy solutions that are sensitive to the needs of our state’s diverse population.
By utilizing the combination of strong ties to New Jersey’s diverse communities and significant expertise in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data, the New Jersey State Policy Lab engages and collaborates with stakeholders such as community groups, the state government, and municipal governments to create high quality datasets and evidence that reflects our state’s diversity and empowers state policy makers to address the needs of New Jersey communities more effectively, innovatively, and equitably.
Our Objectives
- Produce, facilitate, and publicize high quality rigorous research on policy issues relevant to the citizens and communities of New Jersey.
- Respond to state government and community needs for policy solutions through firsthand research or through coordination with the relevant experts across New Jersey.
- Initiate focus group interview(s) with historically underserved communities to evaluate proposed statewide public policy measures chosen in collaboration with State agencies.
- Establish a network of scholars and research centers at New Jersey institutions of higher education to coordinate State policy research and facilitate collaboration.
- Ensure that data-gathering and processing are relevant to policy decisions and are done with an eye towards equity and social justice.
Research Collaborators
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- Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
- Rutgers School for Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)
- Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC)
- Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs
- Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies
- Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling
- Center for Urban Research and Education
- Rutgers Law School Center on Law, Inequality, and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)
- Rutgers School of Communications and Information
Strategic Partnerships
Past and Current Work with Rutgers-Newark:
- Reengaging COVID-Disconnected Youth in Newark
- Parents and Students’ Perceptions of CCOG and GSG Financial Aid Programs
- Disparities in High-Leverage Mathematics Course-Taking in New Jersey, 2016-2020
- Discipline Inequity and Segregation in New Jersey’s High Schools
Past and Current Work with Rutgers-Camden:
- Assessing Utilization of ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in New Jersey
- Outlining Transportation Priorities and Recommendations in Camden County
- The Impact of Eliminating Adjustment Aid for School Districts in New Jersey
- Do Local Cannabis-Related Businesses Impact Home Sale Prices?
- Vacant Commercial Properties in New Jersey
Past and Current Work with NJIT:
- Community Intrinsic Resilience Index (CIRI)
- Enhancing the Resilience of New Jersey Communities Using ARez
- Developing, Validating, and Deploying the ARez Resilience Framework in New Jersey
- Examining Low-Income Community Solar Program and Energy Justice in New Jersey: An AI-Based Crowdsourcing Study
Past and Current Work with Princeton University:
- Policy Collaboratory
- Current & Past Environmental Justice Policies in Climate Adaptation Initiatives
- Enhancing the Resilience of New Jersey Communities Using ARez
- Developing, Validating, and Deploying the ARez Resilience Framework in New Jersey
Past and Current Work with Montclair University:
“As we look toward economic recovery post COVID-19, we’ll need new and smart government policies to emerge as a stronger, fairer, and more resilient New Jersey. Partnering with Rutgers University, today’s funding will invest in transformational research and analysis that will advance positive and lasting impact to ensure a prosperous future for all New Jerseyans.”