The Fall 2014 conference focuses on the design, conduct, and use of research to improve practice in the complex settings in which it occurs, including schools, school systems, higher education institutions, and communities.  One goal of the meeting is to expand our understanding of how practitioners and researchers may work in partnership to address the concrete problems practitioners confront as they endeavor to improve student outcomes.

The conference is organized around four challenging arenas of current education policy and practice:

• Supporting the social and emotional growth of children
• Promoting student engagement and persistence for college and career readiness  
• Improving teacher effectiveness
• Addressing achievement gaps and persistently low-performing schools

 The fifth conference section will focus on research and evaluation methods related to improvement efforts.