Changes in how schools report the share of economically disadvantaged students have made it difficult to consistently measure student need over time and across state lines. Model Estimates of Poverty in Schools (MEPS) 2.0 is an update to the original MEPS 1.0 school-level measure of the share of students from households earning up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. This estimate is comparable across states and time and reflects, as closely as possible, the students who attend each school. 

This nationwide measure is built to support researchers conducting school-level analyses, as well as others who seek new ways to characterize the need of student populations at the school level. The measure is now available for school years 2009–10 through 2022–23, and new years of data will be updated annually via the Urban Institute’s Education Data Portal.  

Join Urban Institute experts as they provide an opportunity to learn more about MEPS 2.0, including recent examples of how MEPS has been incorporated into academic research. 

Speakers 

• Kristin Blagg, Principal Research Associate, Work, Education, and Labor Division, Urban Institute
• Emily Gutierrez, Senior Research Associate, Work, Education, and Labor Division, Urban Institute

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event. 

Support for this event is provided by Arnold Ventures. Further information on the Urban Institute’s funding principles is available at urban.org/about/organizational-principles.