The Center for P-16 Research and Collaboration is situated in the Indiana University School of Education, which is well supported by the vast array of resources at Indiana University. The campus has a state-of-the-art library system (ranked 15th among all academic institutions in the United States) and is one of the most technologically equipped universities in the nation. Yahoo! recently ranked Indiana University as the “4th Most Wired University” and Forbes magazine ranked Indiana University in its “Top 20 Cyber Universities.” The Indiana University School of Education is consistently ranked among the best in the country. The 2002 U.S. News & World Report poll ranked the School of Education 16th best in the nation, based on research productivity, faculty resources, overall reputation and selectivity.

Founded in 2006 to facilitate partnerships that lead to educational improvement from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education, the Center for P-16 Research and Collaboration focuses on improving graduation rates and better preparing students for postsecondary education, particularly in high-need schools in urban areas across the state. The Center has five full-time faculty and staff, whose expertise supports the School of Education and its PK-12 school partners in the following areas:

Research Collaboration: Fostering a culture of research-based practice
To help schools develop and implement research-based approaches to school improvement, the Center engages in partnerships where university researchers and PK-12 educators co-construct projects that address the specific needs of schools and communities. As these partnerships lead to the development of research-based models of best practices, the Center shares the findings through professional development, summer courses, Web resources, conference presentations, and other dissemination channels.  The Center supports a variety of internally and externally funded School of Education research and development projects. This support includes identifying funding opportunities, assisting with the development of proposals, acting as a liaison with the Office of the IU Vice Provost for Research, facilitating university-school partnership activities, and providing financial management support to funded projects.

Multidisciplinary Partnerships: Addressing complex challenges with a collaborative approach
Transforming education requires the coordinated efforts of many groups. To address multi-faceted issues, the Center will help foster partnerships that cross disciplines and administrative units within IU to facilitate access to IU resources, enhance research collaboration, and increase the competitive advantage of grant proposals focusing on school improvement and student achievement. Center staff also provide technical assistance to school leaders and teachers as they engage in school improvement efforts, including the implementation of new models such as Early College and New Tech high schools. 

Professional Development: Supporting educators and providing strategies for engaging all learners
To support educators and youth-serving professionals’ efforts to improve education, the Center provides opportunities to gain new skills, course or continuing education credit, and strategies for effectively engaging all learners. The Center offers on-site and online professional development and training opportunities, including workshops, conferences, and degree programs.

Web Resources and Collaborative Tools: Connecting educators to IU resources and opportunities
Through a dynamic Web site, educators and youth-serving professionals can find information about professional development opportunities, current research models, funding opportunities, and other resources.