The Center for Effective School Practices (CESP) is an applied translational research and evaluation unit within the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. Established nearly 25 years ago, Rutgers CESP has a well-earned reputation for its dedication to bridging the gaps among research, practice, and policy. Centrally, the center works to develop mechanisms and tools that build the capacity of systems, organizations, and stakeholders to effectively use timely, credible, and actionable research-based insights. To this end, Rutgers CESP has decades of experience in leveraging community and practitioner knowledge, fostering multi-sector collaborations, and facilitating the institutionalization of effective decision-making routines.

Rutgers CESP operates as a dynamic hub for innovation, working to create, test, refine, and scale promising interventions and programs. The center’s work operates within and well beyond traditional educational boundaries, forging meaningful connections among disciplines such as health, workforce development, and public policy. Through our interdisciplinary approach, we foster impactful partnerships among local education agencies, institutes of higher education, government agencies, community organizations, and industry corporations. With a rich network of collaborators and proven ability in facilitating collaborations, Rutgers CESP actively engages in the co-production of knowledge that benefits all involved.​