Provides research, evaluation, consulting, and technical assistance services that contribute to the lifelong process of learning and improving personal performance.

Produces and disseminates information to provide motivation and tools to enable individuals to make informed decisions about health issues.

Develops and implements education testing programs that benefit students, parents and public officals.

Works with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the government's primary source for collecting and analyzing data about public education.

Helps to provide all children with access to a quality education, and empowers people, organizations, and communities to bring about social change.

Is committed to helping clients improve the effectiveness of their workforce through a wide range of management, organizational, and business improvement efforts.

Produces, maintains and disseminates systematic reviews of the effects of social and behavioral interventions.

International comparisons of education systems

NCES participates in several international comparative assessments. ESSI staff have co-authored reports with results from TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study; primarily 8th grade), PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment; reading, math, and science literacy of 15 year-olds), and PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study; 9 and 14 year-olds).