Grant Awards

We identify strategic collaborations with university-based researchers, educational research firms, and like-minded non-profits to establish strong partnerships with districts, schools, and teachers.

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Equity-Centered Learning Environments (ECLEs) 

LER funded four research teams who are engaged in ongoing research addressing equity and student-centered learning in educational contexts across the country.

Years of Funding: 2021-2023
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Democratic Knowledge Project

The Democratic Knowledge Project is a project-based learning civics initiative developed by Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and Project Zero. It includes a year-long 8th-grade civics curriculum, Civic Engagement in Our Democracy.

Years of Funding: 2019-2023
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Enabling Conditions Collaboratory

The Enabling Conditions Collaboratory brought together four research teams to work towards understanding the conditions that support high-quality PBL.

Years of Funding: 2019-2020
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Core Practices for Project-Based Teaching

Core Practices for Project-Based Teaching is a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Project research focuses on the critical role professional development and instructional quality play in fostering meaningful student learning.

Years of Funding: 2016-2022
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Equity in Science Education

Equity in Science Education is a 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade, project-based learning science program developed by the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity in conjunction with the San Francisco Unified School District. It integrates the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Mathematics Standards with year-long science curricula tailored to Bay Area students.

Years of Funding: 2016-2020
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Knowledge in Action Validation Study

This evaluation, led by Anna R. Saavedra at the University of Southern California’s Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR), examines the efficacy of the Knowledge in Action curricula and instructional practices for two AP courses. The study employs a randomized control trial approach to estimate the causal impact of the Knowledge in Action courses on student outcomes.

Years of Funding: 2016-2020
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Project America

Design-based research informed ongoing development of this middle school social studies course, which also supports literacy development as reflected in the Common Core ELA standards. This collaboration, between Educurious and RMC Research, identified key areas for improvement of the curriculum and adult learning program in order to support high-quality replication in district-wide partnerships.

Years of Funding: 2016-2019
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Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning

Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning is a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade science program developed by the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The curriculum takes a cross disciplinary approach to sciences, integrating science ideas and practices with lessons in language literacy, mathematical thinking, and technology.

Years of Funding: 2015-2023
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Compose Our World

Compose Our World is a ninth-grade, project-based English language arts curriculum developed by the University of Colorado at Boulder in partnership with Stanford University. The program places an emphasis on social emotional learning by incorporating lessons on reflection, empathy, and fun.

Years of Funding: 2015-2020
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Building a Networked Improvement Community

In this study, SRI International, PBLWorks (formerly the Buck Institute for Education), and Lucas Education Research (LER) formed a network of PBL instructional coaches, teachers, and leaders called the Project-Based Learning Virtual Instructional Coaching (VIC) Networked Improvement Community. The VIC network developed a virtual instructional coaching model for project-based contexts and refined it over time […]

Years of Funding: 2015-2016
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Investigating the Role of Curriculum Materials

“Investigating the Role of Curriculum Materials” was a study led by University of Michigan graduate student Susanna Farmer with guidance from her advisor Dr. Deborah Ball. The project examined the various factors that influenced an educator’s success in shifting to a Project-Based Learning curriculum model.

Years of Funding: 2014-2016
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Project-Approach to Literacy and Civic Engagement (PLACE) Project

Project PLACE is a second-grade, project-based learning social studies and literacy program developed by teams from University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Project research findings suggest that PBL pedagogy can significantly narrow achievement gaps between communities.

Years of Funding: 2014-2015
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Video

Projects That Work: Mission to Mars

Physics students assume the role of aerospace engineers to explore the real-world problem of how to land a rover on Mars

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Video

How PBL Taps Into the Science of Learning and Development

A growing body of research shows that project-based learning can have a positive impact on achievement and engagement. Linda Darling-Hammond describes how a rigorous project-based approach fits in with what we know works for students.

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Research

Project-Based Learning in San Francisco: Research Study Sparks Middle School Science Curriculum

When the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) was looking for a new middle school science curriculum in 2016, it sought a program that would align with the new Next Generation Science Standards and the district’s equity goals.

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Research Award

Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning

Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning is a 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade science program developed by the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

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