McREL develops “Learning by Inquiry” science program, which is used in classrooms nationwide.
McREL pioneers the use of computers in rural school classrooms.
McREL publishes Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks
McREL partners with JPL to bring NASA missions to classrooms nationwide.
McREL launches Scaffolding Early Literacy programs for early childhood educators.
McREL publishes best-selling Classroom Instruction that Works.
McREL releases Balanced Leadership, the largest-ever examination of research on effective school leaders.
McREL provides materials for the educationally enhanced version of SuperSize Me!
McREL develops Power Walkthrough software, making classroom walkthroughs more efficient.
In 1966, a group of policymakers, child psychologists, and educators in the Midwest came together around a shared vision for making a difference in education: to create a nonprofit, nonpartisan education research “laboratory” where knowledge about what works in teaching and schooling would be turned into practical guidance for educators. It was a simple, yet powerful idea, rooted in the belief that improving education for all students was a key front in the War on Poverty.
Over the years, McREL grew from a small group of passionate researchers and innovators working on a single federal contract to an organization with more than 120 employees, a wide array of clients and contracts in nearly all 50 states, and a reputation for converting research findings into creative solutions. In 2008, an independent, third-party survey of district-level decision makers identified McREL as one of the most recognized providers of professional development nationwide.
While our work has changed and grown over the past five decades, one thing has remained constant—our unwavering commitment to our mission and principles. Even as the challenges facing educators have changed over the years, our ability to translate what works in teaching, leading, and learning into innovations and results has never been more in demand than it is today.
We are proud and humbled that we still have the opportunity to make a difference for educators and the students whose lives they shape.