Research for Action Inc

RFA is an independent, non-profit educational research organization with a mission of using culturally responsive and community-informed research to promote racial equity and social justice. For 30 years, we have conducted research and developed partnerships to strengthen public schools and postsecondary institutions; provided research-based recommendations to policymakers, practitioners and the public at the local, state and national levels; and enriched the civic and community dialogue about public education.  RFA’s portfolio of local and national research, evaluation, and policy studies span critical topics related to advancing equity for students, families, and communities across the education pipeline. Some of our recent and current projects examine teacher diversity and Black teacher retention and attrition, the impact of statewide developmental education reform on community colleges, inequities in educational opportunity for minoritized K-12 students across the nation, the implications of new high school graduation requirements on district-wide outcomes, the rollout and impact of College Promise Programs, the implementation of an anti-violence community program, and the impact of COVID on Head Start and Early Head Start workforce stability. A focus on and commitment to community engagement is a defining component of RFA’s research enterprise. Our Community Engagement division hosted its first Teach-In in April 2022.