Schools

At Child Trends, we don’t just study education—we help shape it. With nearly 50 years of experience, we partner with educators, administrators, policymakers, communities, and funders to translate evidence into real-world solutions that improve student achievement. Our expertise spans pre-Kindergarten through higher education, helping systems make data-driven, high-return investments that enhance teaching, learning, and long-term success. 

What sets Child Trends apart is our ability to connect rigorous research with the realities of practice. We design actionable, research-based solutions that work not just in theory, but in real-life schools, classrooms, and communities. We also recognize that education does not operate in isolation. Our work extends to the interconnected systems that influence student success, including child welfare, juvenile justice, and out-of-school-time programs. 

Most importantly, we empower voice and choice. Students, families, educators, administrators, and policymakers need the right information to make informed decisions that best serve their needs. Our work provides insights that strengthen decision making, improve outcomes, and create lasting impact at every level of the system. 

Technical Expertise 

Improving education systems requires a seamless connection between research, data, clear communication, and hands-on support to ensure that findings are understandable and applicable for our audiences. This coordination leads to better resource allocation, stronger teaching and instruction, and improved student success—factors that drive meaningful, lasting change. 

Strategic Planning: Turning Vision Into Action. Education systems don’t improve by accident. They require clear direction, informed decision making, accompanied by strategies that work in practice, not just on paper. We partner with decision makers to assess needs, identify priorities, and craft actionable strategic plans that help schools, districts, agencies, and funders make the most of their resources while achieving meaningful improvements in student success. Our approach integrates rigorous data analysis with deep engagement from those who know the system best—educators, students, and communities—ensuring that plans are practical, sustainable, and built for long-term success. 

Research: Unlocking Insights. Understanding what works in education requires more than just collecting data. It also requires asking the right questions and ensuring that answers lead to practical solutions that improve student learning and strengthen decision making. We design research that reflects the lived realities of students, educators, and administrators, using mixed methods to provide insights that contribute to data-driven choices about policies, programs, and investments. Our work goes beyond traditional studies: By working directly with those leading and shaping education, we help translate research into strategies that drive measurable, lasting improvements. 

Evaluation: Measuring What Matters. Knowing whether an initiative is working and how to improve it requires careful, context-sensitive evaluation. Our team customizes evaluations to meet the needs of schools, districts, agencies, and funders, providing clear, actionable evidence that supports continuous improvement and effective decision making. Whether through rapid-cycle assessments or long-term impact studies, we help education leaders understand what’s working and what’s not, and how to refine efforts to achieve stronger, more sustainable outcomes. 

Data Analytics: Transforming Data Into Power. Education decision makers need more than data; they need insights that clarify challenges, highlight opportunities, and support strategic action. We leverage artificial intelligence, data science, and advanced statistical analysis to uncover trends, identify risks, and support forward-thinking decision making. Our work spans psychometric, statistical, and machine learning approaches and helps educational leaders and decision makers put data at the forefront of their decisions. 

Data Visualization: Making Insights Available. Making use of data means pulling data out of obscure data warehouses and putting it in front of decision makers in digestible formats. Our interactive dashboards, predictive models, and visual storytelling tools make complex information accessible, helping schools, districts, agencies, and funders direct their resources where they will have the greatest impact. By blending cutting-edge technology with deep education expertise, we turn data into a powerful tool for planning, problem-solving, and progress. 

Technical Assistance: Turning Research Into Action. Changing systems requires more than offering recommendations to decision makers; it requires hands-on partnership. We provide customized technical assistance to help education decision makers implement, adapt, and sustain effective policies and practices that maximize the impact of their decisions. Through coaching, training, and capacity-building support, we work alongside schools, districts, and agencies to translate research into daily practice, helping educators and administrators make data-driven decisions that optimize resources and improve student success. Our approach ensures that our solutions align with local needs and priorities while delivering measurable education improvements. 

Research Translation: Making Evidence Work for You. Research should never gather dust on a shelf. It must communicate issues and solutions to audiences who are well-positioned to act on behalf of our children, families, and educators. We have strong strategic communications capabilities to identify ideal audiences and the products they need to make informed, cost-effective decisions. We turn complex findings into clear, practical tools that schools, districts, agencies, and funders can use in real time. Whether through practice guides, policy briefs, or direct collaboration, we help education decision makers integrate research-backed strategies into their work, maximizing returns on investment, reducing inefficiencies, and driving stronger outcomes for students.