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Research and Developments Centers

The National Education Research and Development Centers (R&D Centers) are funded through the National Center for Education Research (NCER). The mission of the R&D Centers is to contribute to the production and dissemination of rigorous evidence and products that provide practical solutions to important education problems in the United States. The R&D Centers develop, test, and disseminate new approaches to improve education outcomes. Each of the R&D Centers conducts a focused program of education research in its topic area. In addition, each R&D Center works cooperatively with NCER, conducts supplemental research within its broad topic area, and provides national leadership in defining research and development directions within its topic area. Currently, there are 13 active R&D Centers and 21 completed R&D Centers.

Active R&D Centers

Completed R&D Centers

Precision Education: The Virtual Learning Lab

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Our newest R&D Center is focused on personalizing and improving virtual learning. The Center will be at the forefront of the "precision education" field, which uses data from prior students to support the learning opportunities for future students.

Learn more about this R&D Center
Virtual Learning Lab Website

Learning How Schools Use Research

IES is committed to connecting research to practice. That is why NCER has funded two Knowledge Utilization Centers that are studying how educators, administrators, and school leaders find and use research.

Research Programs