Rutgers CESP

Excellence & Integrity in Research & Evaluation

For over two decades, Rutgers CESP has connected a broad range of stakeholders to research evidence and best practices through authentic collaboration, high quality technical assistance, and real opportunities for growth and development.

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New Project

The BRIDGE Initiative

Engagement of Parents of Students with Disabilities

The Building Resources for Inclusive Development and Growth in Education (BRIDGE) Initiative is a new partnership between Rutgers University and the NJ Department of Education Office of Special Education. It promotes strong partnerships between families and schools to help students with disabilities make steady progress towards their learning goals. The BRIDGE Initiative’s work is centered around SEPAGs, IEPs & Inclusion, Literacy, and NJTSS.

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Core Expertise

Evidence-Based Insight, Meaningful Improvement

Program evaluation is a powerful tool to understand program outcomes, refine internal processes, and realize iterative improvement. Across multiple levels, Rutgers CESP has decades of experience in connecting high-quality evaluation frameworks to real-world circumstances to craft evaluations that work.

Our Evaluation Services

Featured Spotlight

Building a Strong Computer Science Foundation

Randolph Middle School’s reimagined computer science program is sparking creativity and confidence. From rewriting stories with emojis to analyzing 8-bit music, students are discovering the power of computing in fresh, hands-on ways. With support from Rutgers CESP, enrollment is up and CS is reaching every corner of the school.

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Featured Resource

A Deep Dive into Introductory CS Curricula

The right curriculum is key to engaging your students, achieving academic goals, and sparking interest in computer science. The CS Curriculum Crosswalk gathers important information and presents key insights for several introductory curriculum options.

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The Center for Effective School Practices

Rutgers CESP is a research and evaluation center within the Graduate School of Education dedicated to facilitating the translation of research into best practices and building the capacity of the educational community through collaborative structures that capitalize on short-cycle improvement and ongoing evaluation. With over 25 years of expertise, Rutgers CESP has a record of excellence and integrity in research and evaluation across educational contexts.

Research

Drawing on expertise in study design, mixed methods research, and data analytics, Rutgers CESP regularly leads and collaborates on projects to output high-quality research.

Evaluation

With expertise in the application of many evaluation frameworks, Rutgers CESP partners with organizations to understand outcomes, drivers of success, and areas for growth.

Education

For over 25 years, Rutgers CESP has reached across educational contexts to facilitate collaboration, create learning opportunities, conduct educational audits, enrich practice, and more.

Development

Through strategic planning, needs assessments, project management, and more, Rutgers CESP is a strong partner in planning, implementation, scaling, and dissemination.

Meaningful Projects

Rutgers CESP’s work cuts across levels and domains. From K-12 and higher education, workforce development, training programs, and beyond, our work has included computer science, public health, biomedical training, translational research, and more.

Our center has a proven history of applying a deep understanding of best practices in research in education across contexts. As an agile team, we stand ready to respond to the evolving needs of our communities, our partners, and our society.

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National Institutes of Health

Biomedical Excellence Achieved through Coaching Networks (BEACON)

Hypothesis-driven research examines the impact of individualized coaching on biomedical Ph.D. students in terms of short-term outcomes and sustained positive effects.

N.J. Commission for The Blind

Employment, Development, Guidance, and Engagement (EDGE) Program Evaluation

As the external evaluator, the center collaborates with EDGE stakeholders to assess the program’s efficacy and impact.

U.S. Department of Education

Extending the CS Pipeline: Enhancing Rigor and Relevance in Middle School CS

Rutgers researchers are collaborating with partner schools and industry and education experts to develop a technical assistance framework.

N.J. Department of Education, OSE

The BRIDGE Initiative, Engagement of Parents of Students with Disabilities

In partnership with the NJ Department of Education, The BRIDGE Initiative works to improve the engagement of parents and caregivers of students with disabilities.

Poster Spotlight

Poster Highlight: School-Based Depression Screening

Presented at the 2026 Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, this poster examines the readiness of parents, educators, and mental health professionals to implement universal school-based depression screening. The findings offer insights into the opportunities, concerns, and resources needed to support student mental health through early identification and intervention.

Project Update

Project BEACON Update

The Biomedical Excellence Achieved through Coaching Networks (BEACON) is moving into its second year, and the research team has been busy building momentum across Rutgers. While results from the study are still ahead, the project is well underway and continuing to expand as researchers explore how professional coaching might support biomedical PhD students.

Now Available!

A New Way to Look at Online Math Platforms: Our Reference Sheets!

The new "Math Platforms at a Glance" Reference Sheets give teachers a clear look at major digital math platforms like Khan Academy, IXL, and DreamBox. This free resource offers practical comparisons, classroom insights, and tips to find the best fit for every teaching style and purpose.

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Informed Services

Rutgers CESP is your trusted partner for work that matters. The dynamic, cross-cutting nature of Rutgers CESP’s work makes our center an excellent partner in many scenarios. At the heart of all our services lies authentic collaboration, ensuring there is meaning and purpose to our work, and fostering and maintaining open and honest channels of communication. If you are interested in partnering with us on your next project, big or small, or are looking for more information on any of our services, please reach out! We look forward to learning more and moving forward, together.

Research & Evaluation

Our research and evaluation work generates new knowledge through rigorous investigations and enables informed decision-making. We also welcome partners for research projects/grants.