Conceptualize Data & Inform Policy

Disseminate Publications

We contextualize complex education data and research into clear, compelling publications and digital resources. Our expert data and in-depth reports explore public perceptions of the New Orleans education system including current events, accountability, and student performance. We analyze postsecondary education and employment pathways and provide a detailed look at the governing entities over New Orleans’ schools. For 15 years, the Cowen Institute’s reports have served as essential resources for educational leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders.

Read Reports

Cultivate Data Leaders

We provide professional development to data managers and others who work with K-12 and post-secondary education data.

We offer professional development to data managers and other practitioners who work with K-12 and post-secondary education data to build data-informed capacity across the educational ecosystem. The New Orleans High School Data Fellowship is a dedicated professional development program for high school and CMO-level data managers.

The fellowship focuses on supporting data managers’ ability to successfully track, analyze, and respond to critical high school and post-secondary data. Key focuses include FAFSA Completion Rates, as well as College Acceptance and Enrollment Rates.

The five-month fellowship covers your institution’s National Student Clearinghouse license and participant stipends are available. For detail on upcoming sessions get in touch!

Inform & Influence Policy: 
Driving Systemic Change 

The Cowen Institute translates objective policy analysis into action and recommendations for policymakers, community leaders, and decision-makers across Louisiana. Our policy priority, aligned with our mission, is college affordability. Examples of our impact include:

  • TOPS:

    We have actively supported legislative efforts to sustain and strengthen the state’s TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) scholarship, ensuring it remains a vital, reliable pathway to postsecondary education for Louisiana students.

  • FAFSA:

    We were instrumental in the creation of the Louisiana’s FAFSA completion graduation requirement. This landmark policy made Louisiana the first state to mandate FAFSA completion for high school graduation, immediately increasing access to federal aid.

  • Financial Aid Literacy:

    Our recent work resulted in the successful passage of HB52 (Act 48 of the 2025 Regular Session), which ensures that high school financial literacy courses include specific, targeted instruction on accessing scholarships, grants, and other crucial financial opportunities for postsecondary education.

  • Pell Grant:

    We engage in national conversations through published op-eds and briefs, emphasizing the crucial role of federal student aid programs like the Pell Grant in supporting student success nationwide.