About → What we do
What we do
WEPC pairs rigorous academic research with a deep understanding of how policy gets made and implemented. We work side by side with education leaders to identify the questions that matter most and produce actionable evidence.
WEPC unites the best of academia and policymaking to support students
Policymakers make high-stakes decisions every day, often under tight timelines, with limited capacity, and incomplete evidence.
At the same time, researchers generate valuable insights that too often arrive late or don’t address the questions leaders are trying to answer.
WEPC brings those worlds together.
We work directly with policymakers and practitioners to understand their priorities, identify the questions where research can lead to more informed decisions for students, and connect them with researchers who can help generate answers and make sense of complex data.
Together, we build research agendas that reflect real policy needs and result in a better understanding of what is working and why — all while maintaining the rigor required to produce trustworthy evidence.
Featured project
Evaluating barriers to becoming a teacher in Connecticut→
WEPC analyzed years of data to help answer whether teacher licensure tests were keeping strong candidates out of the classroom — and if those tests predicted who would become an effective teacher.
The evidence helped give leaders the confidence to revise licensure policies and open new pathways into teaching.
Featured project
Retention, early literacy, and the “Mississippi Miracle” →
How an in-depth examination of data from Mississippi by WEPC faculty led to a deeper understanding of one of the most talked about education stories.
The findings gave states strong evidence that retention paired with intensive reading support can deliver lasting gains without hurting students in other areas.
Featured project
Emergency Licenses and the Pandemic Teacher Pipeline →
How WEPC’s partnership with The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) revealed what happens when traditional barriers to teaching are temporarily lifted.
The findings gave state leaders evidence that flexible entry paths can strengthen the teacher workforce.
What partners say about us
“The deep understanding of policy and the SEA context within WEPC's project team makes it possible for findings to be contextualized in a compelling and usable way.”
Director at a State Education Agency
What it’s like to work with us
Long-term partnerships
We build sustained, adaptive research partnerships around states’ and systems’ most important questions.
Standalone projects
We produce rigorous analysis and actionable insight for a defined policy question or research need.
Research planning
We help clarify the most important questions and develop a research agenda that can guide future work.
Our partners
Latest research
