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Program Announcement: Standards in Schools Center (CFDA 84.305C)

Program Officer:
Dr. James Benson
Email: James.Benson@ed.gov
Telephone: (202) 245-8333

States across the U.S. are in the process of adopting and implementing new standards to ensure that students who graduate from high school are ready for college and career. The Common Core State Standards is the largest effort, though some states have opted to make modifications to the Common Core or create their own standards. Few education reforms generate as much public debate, but as yet, there is little evidence on how K–12 schools and teachers are responding to the new standards and what they might mean for students.

The Institute seeks to create a national Research and Development (R&D) Center on Standards in Schools to help fill this void, supporting a focused program of research that includes:

  1. An investigation into how college- and career-ready standards are being implemented and what changes they bring about, if any, in K–12 schools and classrooms;
  2. A longitudinal analysis of student education outcomes; and
  3. If necessary, a measurement study to develop or improve tools to assess changes in classroom teaching practices and student learning related to the standards.

In addition, the Center will engage in leadership and outreach activities that will provide

  1. Opportunities for policymakers, practitioners and researchers to review and discuss evidence on college- and career-ready standards and consider their policy implications; and
  2. An active dissemination effort to share the Center's publications, products and lessons to the education community and the general public.