About CSF

The Center for the School of the Future (CSF) is a research center dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of education by identifying effective educational practices and supporting their dissemination and adoption in local circumstances. To accomplish this, the Center has focused its efforts in the following areas:

RESEARCH
Research sets the stage for school improvement by identifying the underlying principles that make educational products and programs effective, and through communicating those findings in such a way as to support educational practice. The Center conducts original research and summarizes the research of others.

DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION
To assist schools in adopting effective practices, the Center seeks involvement in projects that support the development and delivery of effective educational products and programs that can serve as models for school improvement.

POLICY
The Center strives to provide policy makers, educators, families, and communities with timely and reliable information to assist them in making well-informed decisions and points toward resources that support systematic improvement in education.

CSF PRINCIPLES

All people can learn when provided appropriate instruction and practice.

Learning occurs most readily in positive, non-coercive environments.

Instruction is most effective when it is tailored to the individual needs of students.

Educational decisions are more effective when based upon current information and valid data.

All successful educational programs are based upon sound, verifiable instructional principles.

AREAS OF FOCUS

School Leadership
An effective school leader is an essential ingredient in school improvement. The Center is dedicated to improving school leadership at all levels of education.

Assessment and Evaluation
Better data lead to better decisions and better decisions lead to better outcomes. The Center seeks to provide educators with the tools they need to effectively collect, analyze, and respond to data.

Safe Schools
Schools should be places where individuals feel physically safe and emotionally secure. The Center supports efforts to create positive school climates free from coercive practices.

Technology
Technology is an important tool for facilitating teaching and learning. The Center actively explores how technology can best be employed to accomplish educational objectives.

Partnerships
Successful partnerships are vital in efforts to improve and sustain effective educational practices. The Center seeks to establish partnerships with local, state, national, and international agencies to improve outcomes for students everywhere.