Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness
Kennedy Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
www.educationaleffectiveness.org
E-mail: inquiries@educationaleffectiveness.org
Phone: 607-254-8904
Fax: 607-255-7905 – Attn: SREE

New Professional Organization Will Consolidate Emerging
Community of Researchers in the Field of Education

A new professional organization has been established to help support a growing community of researchers committed to examining cause-and-effect relations important for educational practice. The new organization, led by an advisory board of leading researchers, is named the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. As a specialized research organization within the broader field of education research, SREE will provide a forum for investigators who are concerned with cause-and-effect relations important for education. A mission statement for the organization describes its specific goals:

The mission of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness is to advance and disseminate research on the causal effects of education interventions, practices, programs, and policies. As support for researchers who are focused on questions related to educational effectiveness, the Society aims to: 1) increase the capacity to design and conduct investigations that have a strong base for causal inference, 2) bring together people investigating cause-and-effect relations in education, and 3) promote the understanding and use of scientific evidence to improve education decisions and outcomes.

The initial work of SREE has focused on the establishment of an advisory board, the creation of a peer reviewed journal, the publication of a handbook, and the development of an organizational infrastructure to support the Society. Recruitment activities for charter members have been initiated and a call for general membership will follow. SREE publications will provide an outlet for the dissemination of randomized control experiments, quasi-experimental investigations, modeling studies, and methodological developments in education research. SREE will draw its membership from researchers, institutions, corporations, and various organizations interested in advancing research-based solutions to pressing problems found in classrooms, schools, school districts and school systems. Through a range of focused activities and organized events, this new Society will provide an opportunity for investigators to share findings and exchange ideas about the latest discoveries and methodological innovations important for the study of cause-and-effect relations found in educational settings. An inaugural conference for SREE is planned for 2007. As a community of researchers who focus on cause-and-effect relations critical for effective educational practice, SREE will provide policy makers, state education offices, local education agencies, and the general public with a reliable source of research evidence upon which decisions to improve education may be based. A cornerstone of SREE’s development plan is to work closely with other research organizations and professional bodies concerned with the rigorous study of educational effectiveness. Initial funding for SREE was provided through a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. The grant, which involves prominent researchers from across the United States, is headquartered at Cornell University.