Annenberg Institute Launches the EdExchange: A Groundbreaking Hub for Education Research and Improvement

Turning rigorous research into real improvements for students and schools.

[Providence, RI] — The Annenberg Institute at Brown University proudly announces the launch of the EdExchange, a comprehensive platform uniting three of Annenberg’s key initiatives: EdWorkingPapers, EdInstruments, and EdResearch For Action. Visitors to the websites can find free online resources on topics that matter to them, written for their needs, whether they are researchers, educators, or policymakers.

The EdExchange tackles a persistent issue in education: the lack of timely, accessible, and actionable research insights. As schools face mounting pressure to implement proven strategies, the EdExchange provides a streamlined solution, making high-quality research more practical and readily available.

"The current way we create and share research just isn't working for the people who need it most," says Nate Schwartz, Director of Applied Research at the Annenberg Institute. "With the EdExchange, we are building a collaborative environment where researchers, policymakers, and practitioners can work together to better define needs, generate evidence, and make meaning across a common body of knowledge."

A Unified Resource for Education

The EdExchange integrates three complementary tools:

  • EdWorkingPapers is a repository of working papers that enables the prompt and open dissemination of high-quality studies across various topics, strengthening connections within the research community and empowering policymakers with essential evidence.
  • EdInstruments is an online library of measurement tools and guidance resources designed to support data collection in schools and districts and elevate the quality of data-driven improvement efforts.
  • EdResearch For Action is a collection of clear, easy-to-digest summaries of the state of research in specific topic areas, enabling education leaders to make critical decisions based on a body of evidence. This project is run in partnership with Results for America.

“By combining these three resources within the EdExchange, we’re working to create a more integrated landscape to use education research,” says John Papay, Director of the Annenberg Institute. “We want to ensure that research findings are accessible, relevant, and actionable.”

Transforming the Education Research Landscape

The launch of the EdExchange comes at a critical time, as schools and districts face increasing demands to implement strategies proven to support students and improve outcomes. However, many education systems still struggle to access actionable research in a timely manner. The EdExchange centralizes resources, fosters collaboration, and simplifies access to evidence-based strategies, making it easier for schools to achieve meaningful improvements.

“We hope to become the first stop for practical and rigorous evidence on what we know about building thriving schools,” says Schwartz.

Designed as a “town square” for the exchange of ideas and resources, the EdExchange offers a user-friendly interface that allows seamless navigation across its projects. This unified approach strengthens the connection between research and practice, driving real improvements for students and schools.

For more information, visit: annenberg.brown.edu/edexchange.