Learning Agendas Bring Evidence Into Policymaking

Federation of American Scientists

Evidence-based policymaking is not just about policy that draws on science, it’s about how decisions are made, evaluated, and improved over time. Learning agendas are a set of high-priority questions developed by an agency with input from external stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of their programs and policies. These multi-year agendas are intended to be a crucial component of evidence-based policymaking 

Outcome Reviews Realign Legislative Incentives

Substack (Jen Pahlka)

California Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas announced an intentional, structured process for evaluating whether the laws lawmakers pass actually do what they’re supposed to do. The program is called Outcomes Reviews, and it’s launching as a modest pilot in the state’s lower house, with the intention to look back at roughly 8-15 laws in 2026.

Resource of the Week: Public Services Performance Tracker 2025

Institute for Government (UK)

The Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 annual report provides a comprehensive stocktake. Using more than 250 indicators, it analyses spending, demand, staffing and performance across nine key public services: general practice, hospitals, adult social care, children’s social care, homelessness services, schools, police, criminal courts and prisons.