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Overview

Our Mission

Work with community partners across the state to research and co-construct solutions to the most pressing issues in the cradle-to-career, education-to-workforce pipeline.


Our Vision

Illinois education and workforce development organizations have reliable, relevant, actionable research on which to base decisions.


Our Scope

IWERC’s research addresses field-initiated questions from across the state.


Our Approach

IWERC’s approach to research prioritizes equity, forges collaboration with practitioners, and seeks to uncover and extend successful practices.

IWERC complements DPI’s ambitions to improve education and training for in-demand tech jobs as well as conduct applied research.

IWERC sits at the center of both initiatives; it conducts research on early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary education, and examines the intersections of that research with job-readiness.

Modeled on other research-practice partnerships, like the Consortium on School Research at University of Chicago, IWERC’s agenda is driven by stakeholders across Illinois.

IWERC is working with state agencies, school districts, early childhood programs, colleges, workforce development initiatives, and other educational partners to research and solve critical issues.

Core Principles

Research Agenda

Current Projects

Publications

Newsroom

Funders

IWERC launched in 2020 with the generous support of $4.3 million from foundations and philanthropists.

Since that time, IWERC has been honored to receive an additional $2 million in funding to sustain its impactful, state-focused research agenda.

Advisory Board

IWERC’s work is overseen by an esteemed advisory board of experts in policy, research, and practice.

John Q. Easton (Chair)

UChicago Consortium on School Research

Jo Anderson

Consortium for Educational Change 

Shauna Ejeh

Illinois Action for Children

Judy Erwin

Kivvit

Chris Koch

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Jeff Mays

City of Quincy

Matt Muench

P33

Elliot Regenstein

Foresight Law & Policy

Robin Steans

Advance Illinois

William Trent

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro

Latino Policy Forum

Explore

Explore all IWERC current projects

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