About Us
The Center for the Study of Education Policy (CSEP) is housed in the College of Education at Illinois State University.
CSEP faculty and professional staff conduct applied research, manage a variety of grant-funded projects and contracts, and perform program evaluations to inform policymakers and practitioners regarding improvements across P-20 education continuum. CSEP research and practice emphasizes several key themes:
- The importance of “seamless” P-20 education pathways with smooth transitions for students, with special emphasis on early learning and the high school to college interface.
- The key roles of school and district leaders in improving student outcomes, and ways to support their high-quality preparation and professional growth.
- Support for teachers and teacher teams pursuing National Board Certification.
- Conducting policy research and facilitating policy development with multiple stakeholders.
- Embedding high-quality evaluation processes within cycles of continuous improvement.
- Use of collective impact principles to implement collaborative educational improvement projects.
CSEP’s work is funded through state and federal grants, state and private contracts, and a range of private foundation grants.
Center Services
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Research Design
- Research design
- Surveys
- Interview and focus group research
- Case studies
- Data analysis
Program Evaluation
- Program theory
- Program design
- Logic modeling
- Metrics
- Outcomes
- Reporting
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Policy
- Policy research and analysis
- Policy reports
- Policy development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Legislation and rules
Project Management
- State and federal grants
- State contracts
- Foundation grants
- Advisory council and task forces
