Education research is an indispensable public good—one that turns evidence into impact for every learner, in every classroom. It equips educators, policymakers, and communities with the evidence needed to improve learning, strengthen institutions, and expand opportunity. Education scholars are deeply committed to making a tangible difference in classrooms and communities across the country. Their work delivers not just knowledge, but actionable solutions that inform teaching and learning, shape district and state policy, and enhance community well-being.

From early childhood through postsecondary education and into the workforce, education researchers are addressing the most urgent challenges facing schools and society. They study chronic absenteeism, special education, teacher preparation and well-being, school choice, admissions policies, and pathways to economic mobility.

Far from working in isolation, researchers collaborate with educators, administrators, families, and communities; serve on school boards; testify before legislatures; partner with districts; and advise policymakers at every level. Their work is grounded in a shared commitment to improving learning opportunities and outcomes for all students.

Rigorous education research ensures accountability, guides innovation, and helps direct limited resources toward interventions that truly move the needle for students. By identifying what works, for whom, and under what conditions, research transforms complex challenges into solvable problems—and turns evidence into impact.

Federally Supported Education Research at Work

• With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), researchers developed Building Blocks, a program that helps early childhood educators integrate mathematical thinking into everyday instruction. This work has helped children engage with math concepts through language-rich, developmentally appropriate activities woven throughout the school day. 
• Another innovation, Scratch, a free online coding platform created at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and originally funded by NSF, has transformed how children learn about computer science. With over 100 million registered users worldwide, it helps students develop computational thinking skills in a playful and creative environment. 
• At the University of Virginia, IES-funded researchers developed the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), a reliable tool for measuring the quality of teacher-student interactions. Today, CLASS is used not only in research but as a practical instrument for professional development and program evaluation in early learning settings across the country. 
• In Los Angeles, a pioneering high school data science course—developed through an NSF grant—is one of the first large-scale efforts to introduce high school students to real-world data analysis. It has been adopted in more than nine states and, along with NSF-supported software like the Common Online Data Analysis Platform, has helped lay the groundwork for a broader movement toward data literacy in middle and high school curricula. 

Research That Changes Lives

Improving Practice and Policy at Scale

Rigorous, federally funded studies have shaped some of the most consequential education reforms of the past two decades. Research has documented the success of early college high schools, provided actionable guidance for implementing dual enrollment programs, and strengthened evidence-based approaches to reading instruction, particularly for students with disabilities. It has also helped refine high-dosage tutoring models that are now central to learning recovery efforts nationwide.

Turning Evidence into Measurable Gains

Mississippi’s dramatic improvement in reading achievement underscores what is possible when policy and practice are grounded in evidence. A comprehensive early literacy strategy—designed and sustained with the support of U.S. Department of Education–funded research—has produced significant, widely recognized gains. This progress did not happen by chance; it reflects sustained investment in research, data, and implementation over time.

Protecting the Data That Make Progress Visible

Today, the field stands at a pivotal moment. Schools and colleges are confronting unprecedented challenges—from learning recovery and chronic absenteeism to workforce preparation, student mental health, and persistent inequities. At the same time, the research ecosystem that makes evidence-based improvement possible faces growing strain.

Declining investments, threats to data access, and pressures on academic freedom risk leaving educators and policymakers without the tools they need to make informed decisions. The cost of inaction is high: without rigorous, independent research, innovation stalls, accountability weakens, and inequities deepen.

The vitality of the field depends on a strong, inclusive scholarly community and on sustained partnerships among the federal government, universities, industry and business, and philanthropic organizations. Defending academic freedom, protecting research infrastructure, and supporting scholars whose work is contested are not optional—they are essential conditions for progress. Together, education researchers advance understanding, inform practice and policy, and help build a more equitable and effective education system that serves all learners.