What Policy Studies Associates does

Policy Studies Associates (PSA) is a woman-owned small business founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, DC, providing research, program evaluation, policy analysis, technical assistance, capacity-building, professional development, and systems design/implementation services. The firm operates across four core service lines (Research/Program Evaluation/Policy Analysis; Technical Assistance & Capacity Building; Professional Development & Training; Systems Design & Implementation) and serves federal agencies (notably the U.S. Department of Education), state education departments (New York, Maryland, DC), school districts (NYC, Baltimore City), private foundations (Wallace Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation), national nonprofits (City Year, CCSSO, NAA, Asia Society), and universities. PSA lists 16 staff including two co-owners/principals (Christina Russell and Leslie Anderson), placing it in the 11-50 employee range, and operates as a relationship-driven professional services firm with 40+ years of client tenure.

PSA's technical approach centers on mixed-methods research designs combining quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting, with an emphasis on building evaluation capacity within client organizations. The firm maintains a specialized sub-brand, the Center for Leadership Improvement and Pipeline Support (Pipeline Center, established 2017), which offers proprietary pipeline tools (Principal Pipeline Self-Study Guide, Sustainability Guide, Advancement Guide, and Strong Pipelines Strong Principals guide) developed under Wallace Foundation funding, alongside Facilitated Deep Dives, Leader Academies, PLCs, and SEA capacity-building services. No AI/ML, software products, or platform technologies are disclosed; the firm delivers through human-led consulting engagements rather than technology licensing.

PSA generates revenue through professional services contracts across four channels: federal procurement via GSA Multiple Award Schedule (SIN 541611 including Program Evaluation Services Sub-SIN, SIN 541990, SIN OLM); direct state and local government contracts; foundation-funded research commissions; and university/nonprofit agreements. Pricing is custom quote-based per project scope, methodology, timeline, and team composition, with multi-year contract cadence. The firm holds WBE certifications in NYC, NYS, and Massachusetts, CSB/SBR in Maryland, and CBE in Washington DC, enabling set-aside procurement eligibility across multiple jurisdictions. Work is acquired through competitive bidding on government contracts, foundation grants, and direct engagement with established long-term clients.

Name

Policy Studies Associates

Legal name

Policy Studies Associates, Inc.

Website

https://policystudies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Policy Studies Associates is a woman-owned research and evaluation firm founded in 1982 in Washington, DC, providing program evaluation, policy analysis, technical assistance, and capacity-building services to federal, state, and local education agencies, foundations, and nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Research and Evaluation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy Evaluation & Impact Assessment Organizations (EDADADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Education program evaluation
• Policy analysis consulting
• Research evaluation services
• Technical assistance capacity
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Contracts: PSA holds GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts under SIN 541611 (including Program Evaluation Services Sub-SIN), SIN 541990, and SIN OLM, enabling direct procurement by federal agencies.
2. State and Local Government Contracts: Contracts with state education departments, district offices, and local government agencies for evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance services.
3. Foundation-Funded Research: Commissioned research and evaluation projects funded by private foundations including Wallace Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and others.
4. University and Nonprofit Contracts: Professional services agreements with universities and nonprofit organizations for research, evaluation, and capacity-building support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Policy Studies Associates is a woman-owned research and evaluation firm that conducts customized research, program evaluation, and policy analysis for federal, state, and local government agencies, foundations, nonprofits, and universities. The firm also delivers technical assistance, capacity building, professional development, training, and systems design/implementation services, with a specialized Pipeline Center division focused on building principal and education leader pipelines in districts and states.

Product overview

Policy Studies Associates (PSA) is a woman-owned small business founded in 1982 providing research, evaluation, and technical assistance services to government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and universities. The company offers four core services: Research, Program Evaluation & Policy Analysis; Technical Assistance & Capacity Building; Professional Development & Training; and Systems Design & Implementation. The Pipeline Center is a specialized division focused on building educational leadership pipelines for districts and states, offering services including Facilitated Deep Dives, Customized Support, Leader Academies, and a suite of four Pipeline Tools (Self-Study Guide, Sustainability Guide, Advancement Guide, and Strong Pipelines Strong Principals). Support to States Services provide specialized assistance including stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, professional learning, organizational capacity-building, and program evaluation. The company operates through various contract vehicles including GSA schedules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Leadership Improvement and Pipeline Support: An initiative focused on improving student and teacher outcomes by building the leadership capacity of education systems at the district and state levels to develop and sustain pipelines of principals, superintendents, and other leaders.

Products and services

• Research, Program Evaluation & Policy Analysis Customized research, program evaluation, and policy analysis services that help clients make sound decisions by tailoring projects to their goals—whether scaling programs, developing measurement tools, or assessing impact—and delivering relevant and rigorous results.
• Technical Assistance & Capacity Building Services that strengthen client organizations' capacity to improve performance by enhancing data use, planning, leadership, and the ability to conduct needs assessments, trainings, data management, and tool reviews, connecting performance measures to improvement drivers through theories of change.
• Professional Development & Training Customized professional development and training co-created with clients that directly supports them in achieving their goals using research-based, evidence-based practices suited to each organization's unique context.
• Systems Design & Implementation Systems design services integrating evaluation with performance management to support effective program and policy implementation, including strategic planning, system alignment, and stakeholder engagement through task forces and work groups.
• Center for Leadership Improvement and Pipeline Support (Pipeline Center) A specialized PSA division that improves student and teacher outcomes by building leadership capacity of education systems at district and state levels to develop and sustain pipelines of principals, superintendents, and other education leaders.
• Pipeline Center Services A bundle of technical assistance offerings for developing educational leader pipelines, including Facilitated Deep Dives into district systems, Customized Support tailored to district needs, PLCs for Pipeline Districts and States, Leader Academies, SEA Capacity Building, and Center Partners.
• Support to States Services State-focused services including Stakeholder Engagement/Support to Task Forces & Committees, Policy Analysis, Professional Learning, Organizational Capacity-Building, and Program Evaluation for state education agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Districts with principal pipelines no longer reported struggling to find highly qualified candidates for school vacancies.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• City YearmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSA has been one of City Year's research partners for almost 20 years, conducting multiple studies of the Whole School Whole Child model using quasi-experimental research designs for national, NYC, and Los Angeles clients. Current three-year study assesses impacts on 325 schools in 29 cities.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of reading resources and reports on state responsibilities for school improvement under ESSA. Partnership produced the 'A Nation of Readers' resource describing actions state leaders can take to improve student reading performance.
• Asia Society Center for Global EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on research for the Global Cities Education Network, examining strategies for developing students' 21st-century competencies in Denver, Hangzhou, and Hiroshima. Also collaborated on Digital Promise engagement around equitable education systems.
• National Afterschool AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership producing reports on leadership pipelines in afterschool, digital learning in afterschool programs, and recognition as Most Influential in Research and Evaluation. PSA presented at NAA Annual Conventions.
• WestatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-conducted study on the federally funded Turnaround School Leaders Program for the U.S. Department of Education, examining partnerships among school districts, states, higher education, and nonprofits.
• SRI International and ARSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on U.S. Department of Education study of the Migrant Education Program (ESEA Title I, Part C), examining implementation across state grantees and local subgrantees.
• Digital PromiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured PSA blog on six strategies for equitable education systems, expanding reach of research findings to Digital Promise's education technology network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Abt Associates: Global research and evaluation firm with substantial U.S. Department of Education and federal/state education practice. Direct competitor for large federal evaluation recompetes that PSA also targets through its GSA Schedule.
• RAND Corporation: Policy research organization with significant education policy and program evaluation work, often competing for the same federal and foundation RFPs as PSA on school improvement and education workforce studies.
• SRI International: Research institute with federal education evaluation work, having collaborated with PSA on the USDE Migrant Education Program study. Competes for similar Title I/ESEA evaluation recompetes.
• Mathematica Policy Research: Major policy research and evaluation firm with deep federal education evaluation practice (ESSA, Title programs, IES studies). Comparable to PSA in delivering rigorous program evaluation and technical assistance to federal and state education agencies, but at much larger scale.
• Westat: Large employee-owned research firm that conducts program evaluations for federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education. PSA has co-conducted a Turnaround School Leaders Program study with Westat, indicating direct overlap in federal education evaluation work and competitive bidding.
• American Institutes for Research (AIR): Large nonprofit research organization with one of the largest federal education evaluation practices in the U.S. Competes with PSA for IES, USDE, and foundation-funded education research and capacity-building contracts.

Direct peers

• MDRC: Nonprofit social policy research organization known for rigorous program evaluation in education, workforce, and social programs. Closely comparable to PSA in mixed-methods program evaluation for federal agencies and foundations.
• Education Development Center (EDC): Global nonprofit that designs and evaluates education programs, with similar federal/state/foundation client base to PSA. Comparable in delivering research, evaluation, and capacity-building services to education agencies and school districts.

Others

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): Nonprofit association of state education chiefs; PSA is a contracted research partner rather than competitor. Relevant as an ecosystem participant that procures PSA's policy analysis and report development work on ESSA implementation.
• National Afterschool Association (NAA): Membership association for the afterschool field; PSA is a research partner producing digital learning and leadership pipeline reports. Comparable as an ecosystem stakeholder but not a direct competitor for evaluation services.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/psaresearch

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Policy Studies Associates