National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN)
National Center for Rural Education Research Networks
The National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN) seeks to increase opportunity for rural students through the power of actionable data and evidence. NCRERN builds the capacity of education agencies to undertake evidence-based continuous improvement in rural schools and districts and has increased the body of rigorous research and proven solutions in rural education.
The Rural Center’s network, launched in 2019 with funding from the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), includes over 100 district partners in 17 states across the country as well as their state education agencies, educational service agencies, and regional data centers.
Rural Research
By establishing a network of rural partners working through similar challenges, NCRERN conducts rural research that overcomes sample size challenges, reduces costs, and enables partners to share and benefit from one another’s insights and experiences in order to rapidly identify solutions that work for students and families. Explore NCRERN's model and research on attendance and postsecondary readiness and entry.
The Rural Postsecondary Research Clearinghouse
The Rural Postsecondary Research Clearinghouse compiled by NCRERN synthesizes the existing evidence on policies and practices implemented in high schools to improve students’ college and career readiness and access. Our goal is to help education leaders make informed, evidence-based decisions tailored to their local context. Through this Clearinghouse, we offer practitioners evidence-based strategies they can tailor to their local context and highlight areas for future research.
Rural Collaboratives Research
The Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University and Empower Schools have launched a partnership to support research on the effectiveness of Rural Collaboratives in improving postsecondary success for underserved rural students. This work will examine the impact of formalized rural partnerships as a means to improve and expand college and career training for students, and, ultimately, improve their long-term outcomes.
In the News
The Low-Cost, Low-Lift Way These Districts Used to Reduce Student Absences
One relatively simple and low-cost intervention for rural districts has the potential to reduce student absences by nearly 5%, according to new research.
That intervention: Sending periodic, personalized messages to parents about their children’s...
Empower Schools and the Center for Education Policy Research Partner to Advance Research on the Enabling Policies and Impact of Rural Collaboratives
Empower Schools and the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University are pleased to announce a partnership to research on the effectiveness of Rural Collaboratives in improving postsecondary success for underserved rural students...
When Attendance Gets Personal
From the Bluegrass State to Boston: Bringing Home the Lessons of the Rural Summit
Exploring New Avenues for Postsecondary Success: A Spotlight on Western Local School District
Spring 2024: CEPR Newsletter
Meet the NCRERN Team
Kristen Cummings
Soojin Lee
soojin_lee@gse.harvard.edu
Derik Suria
derik_suria@gse.harvard.edu
Elise Swanson
