In winter 2013, Horizons National engaged The Learning Agenda to inform its future research and evaluation efforts by forming and managing a Research Advisory Board comprised of leading experts on summer programming and research design. The Learning Agenda facilitated several meetings and informational interviews with the board to develop a set of research questions and design considerations, which were later translated into a Request for Proposal. TLA wrote the RFP, managed the proposal submission and selection process among reviewers and bidders, facilitated the bidder’s conference, and created supporting materials such as review rubrics and FAQs.

The quality of the process attracted funding for a one-year feasibility study to test whether the Horizons program model could be researched using a Randomized Controlled Trial design. The Learning Agenda continues to collaborate with Horizons National on the management of the feasibility study and engagement of the Research Advisory Board.