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Grand Challenges

We pursue the greatest challenges and most promising opportunities facing education.

We have identified nine grand challenges that offer the most promise in achieving our vision that all learners are prepared for a dynamic future. These are areas where emerging advancements in technology, data science, neuroscience and other fields make breakthroughs and transformation possible. These challenges help guide our work and the development of our new initiatives.

Transformative Technologies

How will technology support learning in fundamentally new ways across the lifespan?

Better Systems of Education

What policies and organizations will decrease educational disparity and increase school and student excellence?

A WORTHWHILE EDUCATION

What are the purposes of education and how do we prepare learners for a dynamic and unknown future?

SCIENCE OF LEARNING

How far can scientific advances take us towards highly adaptive learning?

THE PROMISE OF EVERY CHILD

How do we help those most in need of a good education and least likely to receive one?

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE EXCHANGE

What innovations join research and practice to enable continuous improvement?

A DATA REVOLUTION

How will new data and methods of analysis reveal pathways to success?

EMPOWERED EDUCATORS

How do we equip educators to create schools that best serve all students, families, and communities?

IDENTITIES AND PARTICIPATION

How do we help ensure that people’s full identities are welcomed, developed and honored in a diverse society?

Learn more about the GSE Vision for the future

Grand Challenges

We have identified nine grand challenges in education where Stanford can drive transformative breakthroughs.

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Discover. Innovate. Drive Change.

To answer educations's grand challenges, we must discover new knowledge, innovate new ideas and put those ideas to work in the world.

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Strategic Initiatives

New programs, research areas and spaces will help us accelerate progress on education’s grand challenges.

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