The Urban Education Institute
Mission
The Urban Education Institute is dedicated to generating the knowledge and tools necessary to create reliably excellent urban schools. We approach this mission through the collaborative work of five distinct units, each playing a critical role in advancing public education.
The Urban Education Institute (UEI) is home to five key units: the Consortium on School Research, IMPACT, the Network for College Success (NCS), the To & Through Project, and the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP). Together, they work toward a shared mission of improving educational outcomes and promoting equity in schools and communities.
Together, UEI’s five units ensure public schools have the insights and expertise to foster student success. We deliver and achieve transformative results through rigorous fundamental and applied research, direct training of teachers and leaders, or partnership with preK-12 public schools. Our efforts reach 65 cities across 38 states, creating lasting change in education systems and serving as a national model for research-practice partnerships.
With nationally recognized research, impactful educator training programs, and a clear focus on equity and excellence, the Urban Education Institute is shaping the future of public education—one school, one teacher, and one student at a time.
The Consortium on School Research conducts research of high technical quality that informs and assesses policy and practice in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), with the goal of supporting stronger and more equitable educational outcomes for students
IMPACT partners with school leaders and educators nationwide to drive school and student success.
Network for College Success works to cultivate postsecondary readiness and success for all students by translating research into practice and supporting high school leaders to organize their schools for improvement and innovation.
The To & Through Project strives to create equitable education outcomes for Chicago Public Schools students by helping educators use data for inquiry and impact.
Urban Teacher Education Program prepares aspiring teachers for successful and long-lasting careers in urban schools.
As part of the Urban Education Institute at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, the Development of Identity and School Communities (DISC) Lab focuses on understanding the diverse influences that shape young people's development. By examining how environments such as schools, families, peer groups, and communities affect youth, the lab aims to improve both academic outcomes and personal well-being.
The DISC Lab’s core purpose is to explore the impact of school, peer, family, and community settings on young people’s achievement motivation, engagement, behavioral and academic identity development, and overall emotional, social, and cultural well-being.