Home: Center for Public Research and Leadership

We transform public school systems into learner-centered organizations that provide every student with the high-quality learning experiences they need to thrive.

OUR APPROACH TO EQUITY-FOCUSED SYSTEMS CHANGE

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Partner with ed leaders to innovate and solve challenging problems

 

We provide evidence-based, context-specific, and actionable research, policy, and legal expertise grounded in transforming systems.

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Develop a new generation of public sector leaders

 

We build aspiring leaders' expertise in organizational design, democratic accountability, continuous improvement, and transformational change.

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Generate, consolidate, share, and apply knowledge

 

We regularly share what we learn through our research, frameworks, tools, and partnerships.

Highlights from our Work

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Read CPRL's new guide to governance and democracy!

Why do different public institutions using the same strategies get wildly different results? The answers lie in how systems work, not just what they are doing. It’s about leadership, system design, and implementation, not just policies and rules. The Learning Hive, published by Teachers College Press, offers a framework, tools, and real world stories on how leaders can transform their organizations into thriving ecosystems of learning and growth where every student can succeed. Gain insights into how designing a learning hive helped Mississippi jump from 49th to 9th in the nation for reading proficiency, and how it enabled high schools in NYC to dramatically improve graduation rates and student learning.

Read the book

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Latest Research

Adopting and effectively implementing a new curriculum is a complex and deeply personal change process. The Curriculum Implementation Change Framework helps curriculum implementation leaders systematically understand how and why curricular materials are being used so they can make strategic decisions about how to best support teachers.

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REACH Higher, Together

Our latest case study in the All Systems Go series (out today! ) takes a close look at Passaic Public Schools in New Jersey, where 95% of students identify as Latino and rigorous, multilingual instruction is a top priority. Some districts take a gradual approach to high-quality curriculum adoption while others dive right in. Passaic sits firmly in the latter camp. After the pandemic, a "perfect storm" of urgency and opportunity created the right conditions for a total overhaul — all grade levels, all subjects, all in one year. “Forward! Pa’lante!” became an unofficial motto for the district, serving as the driving philosophy behind its radical transition. Find out how this spirit of relentless progress helped drive student growth ➡️ https://www.itsallsystemsgo.org/