Center for Education Research, Practice, and Policy Partnerships
WashU is transforming education research, practice, and policy, in our region and beyond through partnerships.
The Center for Education Research, Practice, and Policy Partnerships (CERP³) is a collaborative research environment that aims to reduce social inequities in St. Louis and enhance our ability to understand systematic barriers to educational opportunities across multiple contexts. Through transdisciplinary science, community-based research, data-driven evidence, and policy translation, CERP³ will develop actionable solutions to improve student outcomes and advance societal well-being.
Our vision
We work to ensure all students in St. Louis have access to high quality education opportunities so that they, and their communities, can thrive. To achieve this vision, CERP³ plans to:
- Conduct transdisciplinary research that addresses multiple student contexts across the life course: Traditional research environments often hinder cross-disciplinary collaboration and limit our ability to fully understand society’s most pressing problems. By leveraging expertise from diverse fields such as social work, public health, economics, sociology, and more, CERP³ is committed to breaking down silos and fostering interdisciplinary research that addresses the multifaceted nature of educational disparities and opportunities across the life course.
- Strengthen practitioner partnerships: Researchers often engage with teachers, schools, and district leaders when they have a need. However, when practitioners have a need, they rarely know who to contact. As a result, the researcher-practitioner relationships are often one-way. To address this challenge, we will create infrastructure and processes to help facilitate “two-way” engagement between WashU researchers and school communities.
- Leverage data infrastructure: We are committed to creating accessible data infrastructure, enabling comprehensive analysis and evidence-based solutions. By merging educational data with health, housing, and financial security data, we will provide a holistic view to drive impactful research. Additionally, we will support schools and districts in meeting their data needs, empowering them to make informed decisions in real time.
- Translate research for policymakers: Major educational discoveries often remain in academic journals, inaccessible to local policymakers. CERP³ will bridge this gap and drive action by disseminating research directly to policymakers through multiple channels, such as policy briefs, presentations, and videos. In doing so, we ensure that critical knowledge reaches those who can enact change in our education system.