Building Schoolwide Data Literacy: A Guide to Action Research for Sustainable Growth
Vaughan-McGovern, M., Meredith, T.L., Calabrese, E., Timar, A., Taylor, P. & Diaz, G.
K-12 EDUCATORS AS RESEARCHERS
The Comprehensive Educator Research Program (CERP) is a multi-tiered, school-wide initiative designed to intentionally build educators' research capacity and network those educators through a community of practice. CERP supports teachers in systematically studying their own practice while driving data-informed decision-making in the classroom.
About the Program
CERP shifts the paradigm of professional development by making educators active contributors to educational scholarship. Rather than simply consuming research, our faculty and staff engage in ongoing professional learning to deepen their data literacy, collect and analyze data, implement practical, student-centered innovations, and share their discoveries with other educators and researchers through presentations and publications.
Our Mission
Demonstrate
best practices in teaching and learning.
Innovate
through evidence-based instructional approaches.
Conduct
and support impactful educational research.
CERP has supported:
Dozens of teacher researchers across all grade levels and disciplines.
Over 100 classroom-based research studies.
Numerous conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
Through this work, educators generate actionable insights that directly improve teaching and learning.
Explore and Engage
Our educators are constantly investigating innovative ways to improve student outcomes. Read more about the wide variety of classroom-based studies our faculty are conducting to bridge the gap between educational theory and everyday practice.
Action Research Fellow Program
The Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation extends our research community beyond the Lab Schools through the Action Research Fellows Program. For educators who are ready to investigate their own practice, collaborate with a network of committed teacher-researchers, and contribute to a growing body of practitioner knowledge, we invite you to explore what the Action Research Fellows Program makes possible.
Check out the publications below to learn more about the Comprehensive Educator Research Program:
The Comprehensive Educator Research Program: Empowering Educators and Building Data Literacy to Support Student Learning
Clevenger, C., McMahon, M & McGovern-Vaughan, M. (2026).
Building the comprehensive educator research program: action research as a vehicle for empowerment, growth, and professionalization in K12 schools
Vaughan, M., Meredith, T., Timar, A., Mariani, M., & Calabrese, E. (2024).