The National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)

NCSER researchers have made important progress in understanding factors related to academic growth, developing measurement systems integral to documenting skill development and learning, and developing and testing programs and practices designed to improve education outcomes, broadly defined to include school readiness, academic achievement, behaviors that support learning, and the functional outcomes that improve educational results and transition outcomes to employment, independent living, and postsecondary education. The work of NCSER researchers captures the developmental range of birth through young adulthood in the 13 disability categories recognized in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which include sensory impairments, developmental delays, speech and language impairments, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and emotional disturbance. 

NCSER Staff are trained scientists who are deeply dedicated to supporting researchers as they propose and carry out high-quality, rigorous education research that contributes to the success of learners, educators, and education systems across the country.