Learning communities are an increasingly popular approach toward increasing student engagement and success. As part of the National Center for Postsecondary Research, MDRC is leading a rigorous, large-scale evaluation of the impact of basic skills learning communities on students’ success and persistence in college. At this session, a researcher and administrators will share new impact findings as they lead a discussion about what these findings mean for real-world practitioners: How can program coordinators apply the research findings to strengthen their own programs? Are learning communities worth the extra time and effort in an era of budget cuts?