Trusted, equity-focused education researchers and policy experts.

Research for Action is a nonprofit education research organization. We use field-driven insights to advance equity in opportunities and outcomes for underserved students and their families along the early childhood to postsecondary education pipeline.

The Negative Fiscal Impact of Cyber Charter School Expansion in Pennsylvania Due to COVID-19

Read our latest PACER brief to find out how this is impacting district schools.

We're hiring summer interns!

Want to join a dynamic team and add hands-on research or communications experience to your resume? Check out our intern openings for more info!

New Report in partnership with KnowledgeWorks

Learn how personalized, competency-based learning is taking hold in four study states: Arizona, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina.

The Need for More Teachers of Color

This booklet was released as part of the RFA Teach-In, and provides highlights of findings from RFA’s past studies, newly updated with 2020 -21 data to provide the most recent analysis of the state of teacher diversity in Pennsylvania as a whole and specifically in Philadelphia.

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About Us

For 30 years, RFA has conducted research and evaluation to improve education policy and practice. Using culturally-responsive and equity-focused approaches to research studies, collaboration, and partnership, we work to advance racial and social justice so that all students, families, and their communities have the resources and supports to develop their potential and thrive.

Featured Projects

A project designed to inform state education policy discussions through rigorous, objective research; regular policy briefs; and research-based commentaries in leading media outlets statewide.

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Findings from a national survey of high school aged youth to examine factors that contribute to the readiness and well-being of youth, given the current context of the pandemic and the ongoing national reckoning with racial injustice.

View the Findings

An innovative research practice partnership with the School of Philadelphia’s Office of Research and Evaluation designed to provide research and analyses on some of Philadelphia’s most pressing education issues.

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Our Approach

A hallmark of RFA’s research and evaluation work is our responsive and collaborative approach to partnerships. Our research directly addresses the information needs of our partners and key stakeholders, knowing that education policies and contexts can shift, and important decisions need to be made to seize the moment to improve policy and practice.

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