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.

New Report on PYN's WorkReady Summer Programming

Read our latest report on the costs & quality of virtual/hybrid youth employment programming

RFA Awarded 1st IES Education Research Grant

Learn more about our IES grant award and the upcoming study of California Community Colleges

Evaluation of A2E

We recently concluded a 1 year project to study PA Dept of Education's Aspiring to Educate (A2E) Philadelphia pilot initiative

Dr. Kate Callahan is RFA’s new Executive Director

The board is pleased to announce their selection for Executive Director after a nine month search. Dr. Kate Callahan took the helm on October 15, 2021 and will advance the organization’s growing influence in education research, policy, and social justice across the United States.

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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.

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An innovative partnership 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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