activities · 31
what they do
direct service · 7
- Develop foundational literacy programs for struggling students Early Childhood Literacy Support for Caregivers and EducatorsCreates and implements developmentally appropriate literacy instruction to support students needing tailored interventions in foundational reading skills.
- Developing Innovative Math Learning Products Math & Executive Function R&DDevelops innovative math learning products for grades 3-8 that integrate executive function skill development and center the experiences of historically underserved students. These products have demonstrated improvements in students' understanding of fractions and decimals, math performance, and executive function skills.
- Executive function and math learning products Math & Executive Function R&DDeveloped and implemented innovative math learning products such as MathFluency+ and Fraction Ball for grades 3–8 that integrate executive function development and center historically underserved students, demonstrating measurable gains in math performance, fluency, and socioemotional outcomes.
- Foundational literacy instruction Early Childhood Literacy Support for Caregivers and EducatorsDevelops foundational literacy skills in students who require developmentally tailored or ongoing, appropriate support, particularly through initiatives like ROAR.
- Fraction Ball implementation and professional development Unified Sports School ProgramsPartners with schools and districts to implement the Fraction Ball program on 225 courts in 2025, including delivering professional development to educators to support effective integration.
- Improve math learning through integrated curricula and gameplay Math & Executive Function R&DDeveloped innovative math learning products such as Fraction Ball and MathFluency+ for grades 3–8 that integrate executive function development, demonstrating measurable gains in math performance, confidence, and teamwork; implemented on 225 courts in 2025 with professional development support.
- Partnering with Schools for Program Implementation Unified Sports School ProgramsPartners with schools and districts to implement programs like Fraction Ball, including the provision of professional development, with plans to install 225 courts in 2025.
research · 15
- AI-enhanced teaching and learning innovation AI Education Infrastructure & Strategy DevelopmentDevelops and tests new teaching approaches and AI-powered tools to support student learning in the context of emerging technologies, with a focus on adaptive, student-centered instruction.
- Advance math education through executive function integration Math & Executive Function R&DConducted multi-year research and development to strengthen students' executive function skills in conjunction with math learning, testing integrated approaches across grades 3–8 and producing evidence-backed tools and assessments.
- Conduct research on literacy assessment and intervention School Library & Literacy Support ServicesPublished research reports and whitepapers with actionable recommendations to address the K–12 reading crisis, including literacy assessment and intervention strategies for older students through the ROAR initiative.
- Conducting Research and Development in Literacy School Library & Literacy Support ServicesPublishes reports and whitepapers with recommendations to address the K-12 reading crisis and on literacy assessment and intervention for older students, including the ROAR program. This also involves developing foundational literacy skills for students requiring developmentally tailored support.
- Conducting Research and Development in Math Education Math & Executive Function R&DConducts coordinated research and development efforts, including a five-year program focused on math and executive functioning skills, to produce learning products, research tools, and practical insights for educators, researchers, and developers. This includes developing and testing approaches to strengthen students' executive function skills in conjunction with math learning.
- Design and implement AI-enhanced teaching approaches AI Education Infrastructure & Strategy DevelopmentDevelops and tests new AI-powered tools and teaching methods to support student learning in the context of emerging technologies.
- Develop and scale evidence-based education products Evidence-Based Teaching Tools DevelopmentLaunched R&D programs since 2021 that created research-backed teaching tools and learning products now being implemented by school districts nationwide, reaching millions of students.
- Developing AI-Powered Teaching Approaches AI Education Infrastructure & Strategy DevelopmentDevelops and tests new teaching approaches and AI-powered tools to support student learning in the AI era.
- Developing and Scaling Education Products Evidence-Based Teaching Tools DevelopmentLaunches high-impact R&D programs that produce evidence-backed education products, which are then scaled by school districts and systems nationwide, reaching millions of students. This includes making prototypes, research, assessments, and inclusive R&D practices accessible through a public resource library.
- Educational assessment innovationDevelops and refines assessment systems that generate timely, meaningful data to inform instruction and improve student-centered learning, transforming traditional educational evaluation practices.
- Literacy research and policy recommendations School Library & Literacy Support ServicesConducted research on the K-12 reading crisis and published actionable reports and whitepapers, including the ROAR initiative, to inform literacy assessment and intervention strategies for older students.
- Math and executive function research and development Math & Executive Function R&DCompleted a five-year R&D initiative integrating math learning with executive function skills, conducting coordinated research across a community of over 700 educators, researchers, and developers to produce evidence-backed tools and learning products for grades 3–8.
- Scaling evidence-based education products Evidence-Based Teaching Tools DevelopmentLaunched high-impact R&D programs since 2021 that have produced evidence-backed education products now being adopted and scaled by school districts and systems nationwide, reaching millions of students.
- Transform educational assessment systemsDevelops and implements assessment systems that generate timely, accurate, and meaningful data to inform instruction and advance student-centered learning.
- Transforming Educational AssessmentDevelops and works to transform assessment systems to generate timely, meaningful data that informs instruction and improves student-centered learning.
capacity building · 9
- Develop national education innovation fellowshipsEstablishes interdisciplinary national fellowships that apply scientific rigor to develop transformative ideas in teaching and learning.
- EF+Math Resource Library and open resources Math & Executive Function R&DMaintains and provides public access to the EF+Math Resource Library, which includes learning products, research tools, prototypes, assessments, and inclusive R&D practices developed through the EF+Math program.
- Establishing National FellowshipsEstablishes national fellowships that utilize scientific rigor and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop transformative ideas in teaching and learning.
- National fellowships for teaching innovationEstablishes national fellowships that apply scientific rigor and interdisciplinary collaboration to generate transformative ideas in teaching and learning.
- Offer professional learning and implementation support Math & Executive Function R&DProvides professional learning resources and development to support evidence-based math instruction and classroom implementation of executive function-integrated teaching practices.
- Professional learning and educator support Math & Executive Function R&DProvides professional learning resources and supports the implementation of evidence-based math instruction and executive function-integrated practices in classrooms.
- Provide open-access educational resources and tools Math & Executive Function R&DMaintains a public repository and resource library—including prototypes, research tools, assessments, and inclusive R&D practices—through the EF+Math program to support educators, researchers, and developers.
- Providing Capacity Building for Math Education Math & Executive Function R&DLaunches and maintains the EF+Math Resource Library, providing professional learning resources to support evidence-based math instruction and the implementation of executive function-integrated practices in classrooms. This also involves bringing together educators, researchers, and developers to advance equitable math education.
- Support equitable math education through collaborative R&D Math & Executive Function R&DCoordinated a community of over 700 educators, researchers, and developers from 2019 to 2025 to advance equitable math education via inclusive research and development practices.
strategies · 20
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- AI-Teacher Collaboration Model ai_teacher_collaboration_modelDesigns AI-powered educational tools through collaborative R&D that enhances, rather than replaces, the role of teachers by combining human insight with AI capabilities to support underserved learners.
- AI-Teacher Collaboration for Enhanced Learning AI-teacher_collaboration_modelThe organization designs AI-powered education tools through collaborative R&D that integrates the strengths of human teachers and AI. This interdisciplinary co-creation model brings together teachers, researchers, and engineers to develop and test new teaching models in classrooms, particularly benefiting underserved students.
- AI-Teacher Collaborative Design Model ai_teacher_collaboration_modelDesigns AI-powered educational tools by combining human pedagogical expertise with artificial intelligence through collaborative R&D, aiming to enhance teaching and learning, especially for underserved students.
- Advanced Inclusive R&D for Equitable Education Solutions advanced_inclusive_r_and_dThe organization employs an Advanced Inclusive R&D model that integrates scientific rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous co-design with educators, learners, and other stakeholders from inception. This approach prioritizes equity and aims to create breakthrough, scalable education solutions, particularly for underserved students, by incorporating their voices and experiences throughout the research and development process.
- Advanced Inclusive Research & Development Model advanced_inclusive_r_and_dAn interdisciplinary, equity-centered R&D approach that integrates scientific rigor with continuous co-design involving educators, students, researchers, and developers from the inception of projects to create scalable, transformative education solutions.
- Advanced Inclusive Research & Development Model advanced_inclusive_r_and_dAn interdisciplinary, co-design-driven R&D model that integrates scientific rigor with the continuous involvement of educators, learners, and other stakeholders from inception to scale, ensuring equity-centered, high-impact innovations in education.
- Co-Design Innovation Cycles co_design_innovationUses rapid, collaborative innovation cycles that bring together educators, researchers, developers, students, and caregivers to co-create, test, and refine educational tools and practices from inception through implementation.
- Ecosystem Bridging for Broader Adoption and Scaling ecosystem_bridgingThe organization disseminates research insights and tools through strategic ecosystem partnerships. This approach enables broader adoption and scaling of their educational innovations by leveraging external collaborations.
- Ecosystem Partnerships for Research Dissemination ecosystem_bridgingAccelerates the adoption and scaling of research-based tools and insights by sharing them through strategic partnerships across the education ecosystem.
- Ecosystem Partnerships for Scaling Impact ecosystem_bridgingDisseminates research insights and tools through strategic partnerships across the education ecosystem to accelerate adoption and scaling of evidence-based solutions.
- Evidence-Based Learning Science Research evidence_based_education_researchConducts rigorous research on foundational learning approaches, such as Structured Linguistic Phonics, to generate evidence on effectiveness and inform the development of equitable, scalable educational solutions.
- Executive Function Integration in Math Education executive_function_integrationImproves math learning outcomes in grades 3–8 by intentionally developing students' executive function skills, with a focus on equity for Black, Latino, and economically disadvantaged students.
- Executive Function Integration in Math Education executive_function_integrationImproves math learning outcomes for grades 3–8 by intentionally integrating the development of executive function skills into instruction, with a focus on equity for Black and Latino students and students experiencing poverty.
- Integrating Executive Function Skills for Improved Math Outcomes executive_function_integrationThe organization improves math learning outcomes, especially for Black and Latino students and students experiencing poverty, by strengthening their executive function skills. This is achieved through integrating executive function development into math education, sometimes using play-based learning, and studying the interconnectedness of cognition, identity, and math learning.
- Interconnected Research on Cognition, Identity, and Learning integrated_research_on_cognition_and_identityStudies how math learning outcomes are shaped by the interplay between executive function, student identity, and classroom experiences to inform more equitable and effective instruction.
- Interdisciplinary Co-Design Innovation Cycles co_design_innovationUses rapid, collaborative innovation cycles that bring together educators, researchers, developers, students, and engineers to co-create, test, and refine educational tools and models, particularly AI-enhanced teaching solutions.
- Play-Based Learning for Cognitive Development play_based_learningUses play-based learning as a developmentally appropriate method to strengthen both math comprehension and executive function skills in students.
- Three-Pillar Innovation Framework three-pillar_innovation_modelOrganizes and accelerates education innovation through three strategic pillars: Discovery and Invention, Next-Generation R&D Infrastructure, and Research-to-Practice Acceleration, enabling systemic transformation from idea to impact.
- Three-Pillar Innovation Framework three-pillar_innovation_modelOrganizes education innovation around three interconnected pillars—Discovery and Invention, Next-Generation R&D Infrastructure, and Research-to-Practice Acceleration—to systematically advance solutions from idea to widespread impact.
- Three-Pillar Innovation Model for Education Transformation three-pillar_innovation_modelThe organization structures its innovation efforts around three pillars: Discovery and Invention (funding high-impact R&D), Next-Generation R&D Infrastructure (building shared tools and platforms), and Research-to-Practice Acceleration (co-designing, testing, and scaling innovations with stakeholders). This comprehensive model aims to accelerate education innovation from initial ideas to widespread impact.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
AdvancED Fellowship
National fellowship program convening education leaders to develop bold ideas for transforming teaching and learning
Assessment for Good
R&D program developing student-centered, formative assessments for ages 8-13 that deliver actionable data at the speed of teaching and learning
AugmentED
R&D collaborative focused on co-designing AI-powered tools and new teaching models for the age of artificial intelligence in education
EF+Math
R&D program focused on strengthening students' executive function skills alongside math learning, resulting in tools like Fraction Ball and MathFluency+
Fraction Ball
Physical education-based math program that uses basketball court markings to teach fractions and decimals through play
MathFluency+
Game-based online learning platform that improves math fluency and executive function skills in grades 3-5
Reading Reimagined
R&D program aimed at ending illiteracy by developing classroom-ready solutions for older elementary students needing foundational reading skills
relationships · 12
who they work with
- AdvancED Fellowship Coalition — Fellowship program that engaged PreK-12 education leaders to develop bold ideas for transforming teaching and learning.
- EF+Math Partner — Collaborates on math and executive functioning research and resource development
- EF+Math Partner — First program of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) focused on improving math education through executive function integration.
- EF+Math Community Partner — Collaborative network of educators, developers, and researchers engaged in inclusive R&D for equitable math education.
- EF+Math Program Partner — Collaborative program focused on integrating executive function development with math learning.
- EF+Math Program Partner — Program developed and operated by AERDF to integrate executive function and math learning
- El Sol Academy Partner — Provided teacher input and implementation site for the development of Fraction Ball in collaboration with Juego! and UC Irvine.
- Juego! Partner — Supported by AERDF's EF+Math program to develop and scale Fraction Ball, a play-based math learning innovation.
- MIND Education Partner — Supported by AERDF's EF+Math program to develop MathFluency+, a game-based learning tool for math and executive function development.
- SRI International Partner — Collaborates with AERDF on the Reading Reimagined R&D program to explore literacy interventions.
- U.S. Department of Education Government — Referenced as the recipient of less than 0.2% of federal R&D funding, highlighting systemic underfunding in education research.
- UC Irvine Partner — Collaborated with Juego! and El Sol Academy to design Fraction Ball, with research led by Dr. Andres Bustamante.