About Us
Raising the quality of education in the United States is imperative for society’s well-being. With that goal in mind, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings examines the challenges facing the American education system and to help identify practical policy solutions.
A basic consideration underlies most of our research: we seek to better understand how educational performance relates both to the nation’s civic health and the strength of the American economy.
The Brown Center adheres to the strictest standards of independent, objective scholarship. At the same time, its aim is not only to reach academic audiences but to inform policymakers at all levels of government and also interested members of the public. The Brown Center’s work draws on a broad range of disciplines, including economics, political science, sociology, and history. Some of the work is not only cross-disciplinary but cross-national.
The Brown Center’s research is wide-ranging and has included studies on the impact of curricula, academic standards and accountability, testing procedures, school and class size, pedagogical technology, school choice and accessibility to a quality education, school system governance, the role of teachers’ unions, educational finance issues, achievement gaps among racial and ethnic groups, the enhancement of opportunities for gifted students, the challenges facing non-English speaking youngsters and students with special needs, distance learning and virtual education, and other distinctive problems of urban school districts.
The Brown Center is also home to the Brown Center Report on American Education. An influential annual research project that has been published since 2000, the Brown Center Report each year analyzes the state of American education using the latest measures of student learning, uncovers and explains important trends in achievement test scores, and identifies and evaluates promising educational reforms.
Our Staff
The program is directed by Russ Whitehurst.
Michael Gallaher, Research Analyst
Sarah Whitfield, Financial and Administrative Assistant
For media inquiries contact:
Ashley Inman, Communications Manager
202.741.6523, ainman@brookings.edu