Education Improvement

Bringing Learning Research to the Classroom
The Institute for Learning (IFL) works to ensure that every student - especially those traditionally underserved due to income, race, and language - has access to high-level texts, tasks, and high-quality learning opportunities to build the critical thinking and deep reasoning skills that are required for success. We believe that the way to achieve equitable and sustainable change is to focus on coherent, evidence-based learning for all educators across an educational system. Visit the Institute For Learning website

Helping Education Leaders with Data-driven Decision-making 
Evaluation for Learning (EFL) group uses evaluative inquiry, field knowledge, and improvement science approaches to support improved decision-making by educational leaders, practitioners, and policy shapers in K-20. Visit the Evaluation For Learning website.

Supporting School Leaders to Improve K-12 Teaching and Learning 
The Partners for Network Improvement (PNI) team specializes in evaluating improvement networks, offering evidence-based support of leaders as they design, initiate, and develop improved K-12 teaching and learning. Visit the Partners for Network Improvement website.

Working with Local Schools to Improve Learning 
Pittsburgh Area Schools and Districts: Researchers at LRDC work with Pittsburgh public schools across the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. Through these partnerships, LRDC researchers support teachers, students, and staff to apply research to authentic educational environments. Faculty also have research-practice partnerships with suburban school districts.

Getting Kids to College 
The Pittsburgh Promise: LRDC researchers have partnered with Pittsburgh Promise administrators and Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders to determine what information these decision-makers need to build this $250 million investment in the region and then provide evidence-based insight in time to support policy and practice decisions. This work also includes impact evaluation of the Promise on college going, college attainment and workforce outcomes in the region. Learn more about The Pittsburgh Promise. Learn more about The Pittsburgh Promise.

Reducing Suspension Rates in City High Schools 
The Just Discipline Project: In the Woodland Hills School District, LRDC faculty work on projects that support teachers, students, and staff in efforts to reduce the need for exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions, in schools. Learn more about The Just Discipline Project.

Supporting Literacy Improvement on a Large Scale Dallas Independent School District: 
Funded by the Bill & Melinda French Gates Foundation, The Institute for Learning, LRDC researchers, and the School of Education's Center for Urban Education: Work in collaboration with the Dallas Independent School District to support literacy improvement in 14 secondary schools serving historically-minoritized students. Learn more about the IFL work in the DISD.