A new research and development institute at Harvard University aims to study and promote innovative strategies for improving urban education, with a focus on Chicago, New York City, and Washington.
The three-year, $44 million initiative will bring together top scholars and connect them with the institute’s own research and development teams embedded in the districts, according to a Sept. 25 press release from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, which donated $6 million to help pay for the effort.
The Education Innovation Laboratory will be headed by Roland G. Fryer Jr., an economics professor at Harvard who has worked part-time as the chief equality officer in the 1.1 million-student New York City district. One research priority will be incentive programs, such as giving students cash for strong test scores. Mr. Fryer established such a program in the New York City schools.
