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Our Work

Our Expertise Areas

RFA’s deep research capacity and unparalleled educational expertise sets us apart from the field.

Our researchers are experts in all areas of education research ranging from pre-K through postsecondary education to workforce preparation and out-of-school time.  Our knowledge of the field of education is not purely academic.

We take pride in weaving strong methodological and content expertise with real-life experience as teachers, school board members, education policymakers, lawyers, district administrators, educational advocates, faculty members, and teacher trainers. This combined expertise allows us to identify barriers to and opportunities for reform at the practice, school, and system levels.

Early Childhood Education

RFA is engaged in a variety of research, evaluation, and policy analyses focused on issues related to child care and early childhood education. We realize early childhood education shapes student achievement and guides their futures. Through our research we hope to improve ECE systems, for students, parents, and teachers. We realize early childhood education shapes student achievement and guides their futures. Through our research we hope to improve ECE systems, for students, parents, and teachers.

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K-12

We understand issues related to K-12 education and school systems in and across a variety of public school contexts, including district schools, charter schools, and juvenile justice facilities. Our research focuses on the implementation and impacts of various schoolwide programs and supports, as well as curricula and instructional practices, related to literacy, STEM, and high school to career and college readiness. Our research focuses on the implementation and impacts of various schoolwide programs and supports, as well as curricula and instructional practices, related to literacy, STEM, and high school to career and college readiness.

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Postsecondary

Our team of researchers brings deep expertise in postsecondary and workforce policies. Our focuses include the complexity of large-scale state policy reform efforts, how policies and policy contexts vary across states, and how policy design and implementation processes can affect the efficacy of these policies. RFA’s expertise is gleaned from a broad range of relevant research projects.

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Out-of-School Time

RFA has an expansive portfolio of out-of-school time (OST) program research and evaluation built over the last decade that includes local Philadelphia-based evaluations as well as national multi-site OST research initiatives. We conduct research and provide actionable feedback to OST programs and officials.. RFA prioritizes examining program quality and understanding contextual factors that contribute to or impede quality implementation in OST. We conduct research and provide actionable feedback to OST programs and officials.. RFA prioritizes examining program quality and understanding contextual factors that contribute to or impede quality implementation in OST.

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Meet the RFA Team

Meet our team of education experts and rigorously trained researchers.

Our Team