Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF)

Advanced Education Research & Development Fund or AERDF (sounds like air-diff) is the first national nonprofit dedicated to advancing research and development in PreK-12 education. Inspired by the U.S. federal government’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in the defense, health, and energy sectors, AERDF pursues multigenerational change through scientific discoveries and inventions that unlock new capabilities for addressing the most persistent challenges in teaching, learning, and assessment. Think of the mRNA technology to reach a Covid vaccine. Or the R&D that led to the creation of GPS or the internet. We need capacities within our U.S. education systems to reach that level of impact. How can we apply executive function skill development to further math success, or help assessment move at the speed of teaching, or end illiteracy? These are the missions of AERDF's current three programs – EF+Math, Assessment for Good, and Reading Reimagined. AERDF’s R&D programs produce generalizable knowledge that can be applied across the sector, technical capabilities that can be embedded in products and practices, and prototypes that offer adaptable solutions to foster student growth – all helping to catalyze broad improvements in education. By prioritizing Black and Latino learners and students experiencing poverty, AERDF ensures that innovations are inclusive and equitable. Learn more at https://aerdf.org.