The Aurora Institute Research team is working to build the evidence base and advance best practices around education innovation and competency-based education. The team produces credible and usable insights from rigorous research and evaluation studies, and aspires to shape the story around competency-based approaches through their work gathering evidence through work such as observational studies, case studies, pilot studies, implementation students, and randomized control trials. 

The team is committed to equity in how we engage in R&D, ensuring diverse partnerships and inclusive practices in projects, as well as diverse representation in the work that is amplified. 

The Aurora research team has experience leading multi-year state evaluations, developing interview and survey instruments, and has presented findings in multiple formats to both state and national audiences. Currently, the team is engaged in partnerships with organizations such as KnowledgeWorks, The Learning Accelerator, Smarter Balanced, and more.