Who We Are
NCREST works with educators, policymakers, community groups and other organizations to improve schools and transform education systems. Founded in 1990 by Linda Darling-Hammond and Ann Lieberman, Director Thomas Hatch leads NCREST’s current efforts help all those engaged in education to reimagine, create, and sustain more powerful and equitable learning environments. NCREST is affiliated with the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University.
What We Do
NCREST carries out research and development projects that address the fundamental changes in learning, teaching, curriculum, assessment, parent and community engagement, and administration that comprehensive school improvement demands. As part of the work, NCREST produces a wide range of publications and images of practice that can be used to fuel educational reform efforts and support professional learning. NCREST also shares news and research on educational change around the world via International Education News.
Featured Publication
“Instead of trying to add more skills and competencies into the curriculum or Spursuing gargantuan efforts to replace one curriculum with another, there’s a better approach—and that’s to condense the curriculum.”
Read more in Thomas Hatch’s recent article: “The Power of Condensing the Curriculum” in the December 2025 issue of Educational Leadership.
Featured Projects
The Latest from International Education News
What's new, what's good, and what's effective in education around the world
What do innovative schools in China look like? Stability & change in the education system in China (Part 1)
Can China reduce the pressures of the national exams that dictate which students get into top universities? Is it possible to maintain a strong academic focus and expand support for student-centered learning and students’ overall wellbeing at the same time? … Continue reading
Reform, Resistance, and More Turbulence? Scanning the Headlines for Predictions for Education in 2026
IEN’s roundup of predictions for education in 2026 anticipates an accelerating impact for AI, further calls for school and system transformation, and continuing resistance and challenges for educational reform from changing conditions and political pressures. Last week’s post focused on … Continue reading
AI, Cellphones, Literacy, Students’ Mental Health, Political Turmoil and More: Scanning the Headlines for the Top Education Stories for 2025
IEN’s annual roundup of year-end reviews of top education stories and issues includes discussions of “tectonic” shifts in education related to AI and the actions of the current administration in the US as well as continuing concerns like the use … Continue reading
Celebrating Extraordinary Educators from Africa’s Aspire Fellowship Programme
As we look back on 2025, we’d like to celebrate some of the extraordinary work in education we learned about this year. In this case, we’re highlighting the work of the Aspire Leadership Fellows of the Africa Leadership Academy. The … Continue reading
Centering Equity Through Historical Grounding and Collective Educational Change with Latrice Marianno
In December’s Lead the Change (LtC) interview Dr. Latrice Marianno argues that meaningful educational improvement must be historically grounded and explicitly centered on equity and justice, not treated as a side effort within school improvement. Despite current challenges, she calls … Continue reading