Meg Caven, EDC research scientist, is a sociologist, education researcher and program evaluator. Drawing on mixed-methods and participatory inquiry, she advances knowledge of how policy reforms affect educational opportunity, practices, environments, and outcomes. She is particularly interested in leveraging research-practice partnerships to improve educational outcomes.

Currently, Caven co-leads the New Hampshire Partnership to Increase Early Learning Outcomes through Play for the REL Northeast & Islands at EDC. She is also leading evaluations of educational services provided to youth in juvenile justice custody and a program, Future Quest Island, designed to raise young people’s career awareness. Previously, she studied expanded learning time at Abt Associates.

Caven is the lead author of the report Center- and Program-Level Factors Associated with Turnover in the Early Childhood Workforce, and a co-author of the report Exploring Implementation of Attendance Supports to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Providence Public Schools. She has blogged on the importance of play-based learning and effective school discipline.

Caven holds a PhD in Sociology from Brown University and an EdM from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.