The Center's work is grounded in the idea that the current system does not work as well as it should and that efforts to improve schools have to include a broad and fair look at the possibility of fundamental change in the institutions that provide them.

As part of the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory's (SEDL's) regional educational laboratory, the Center bridges research and practice to remove barriers to student achievement.

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice assists with developing policies and programs for youth with mental health disorders in contact with the juvenile justice system based on the best available research and practice.

The National School Climate Center (formerly the Center for Social and Emotional Education) is an educational and professional development organization dedicated to supporting the ability of parents, educators, and counselors to promote children’s social and emotional competencies.

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) assists state leaders by directing attention to key education issues; collecting, compiling and analyzing comparable data; and conducting broad studies and initiating discussions to help states and institutions form long-range plans, actions, and policy proposals.

The Knowledge Loom is an active online teaching and learning community.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse is a think/action tank that engages all disciplines to study every form of substance abuse as it affects society.