Alex B. Jacobson

Overview

Alex B. Jacobson brings a diverse professional background and broad skillset to his leadership of comprehensive education finance research and policy analysis. As a senior research associate with strategic resource allocation and system planning, Jacobson leads economic evaluations of educational interventions and econometric analysis of state education funding policy equity and adequacy.

Jacobson’s specific projects at WestEd include leading studies of state education program costs and funding formulas including the cost of English Learner programs in Ohio, special education in Maryland, and overall K–12 education programs in Utah and North Carolina. In addition, he has led or currently leads several cost-effectiveness studies examining a range of educational interventions including early college programs, tutoring programs, and multiple interventions targeting improvements in mathematics education.

Before joining WestEd, Jacobson supported a range of research projects at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) related to education finance and resource allocation, including two educator supply and demand studies. Also at AIR, Jacobson provided technical assistance to states across the country through his prior role at the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders.

Education

• MPP, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University

Select Publications

Jacobson, A., Brown, A., McClellan, P., Ferrell, R., Porter, L., Silverstein, J., & Piscatelli, J. (2022). Ohio English Learner cost study: Final report. WestEd; Augenblick, Palaich and Associates. https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/sites/default/files/uploads/English-Learners-Cost-Study.pdf.

Snipes, J., & Jacobson, A. (2021). Academic mindsets and behaviors, prior achievement, and the transition to middle school (REL 2022–123). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory West. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/west/pdf/REL_2022123.pdf.

Jacobson, A., Silverstein, J., Willis, J., Diaz, J., Fermanich, M., Piscatelli, J., Lewis, R., McClellan, P., & Durodoye, R. (2021). Utah funding study: Phase 2 report. WestEd, Augenblick, Palaich and Associates. https://schools.utah.gov/policy/_policy_/_2020utaheducationfundingstudy_/UtahEducationFundingStudyPhase2Report.pdf.

Willis, J., Krausen, K., Berg-Jacobson, A., Taylor, L., Caparas, R., Lewis, R., & Jaquet, K. (2019). A study of cost adequacy, distribution, and alignment of funding for North Carolina’s K–12 public education system. WestEd. https://wested2024.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23171540/Leandro-Finance-Report-1.pdf.

Baumgardner, C., Frank, S., Willis, J., & Berg-Jacobson, A. (2018). Finding a path toward equity: What states can learn from the transformation of California’s school funding model. WestEd. https://wested2024.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23171604/ERS-Path-Toward-Equity.pdf.

Berg-Jacobson, A., & Levin, J. (2015). Oklahoma study of educator supply and demand: Trends and projections. American Institutes for Research. https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report/Oklahoma-Study-of-Teacher-Supply-and-Demand-September-2015.pdf.

Levin, J., Berg-Jacobson, A., Atchison, D., Lee, K., & Vontsolos, E. (2015). Massachusetts study of teacher supply and demand trends and projections. American Institutes for Research. https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report/Massachusetts-Study-of-Teacher-Supply-and-Demand-December-2015_rev.pdf.