American Institutes for Research to Merge with Learning Point Associates
Washington, D.C. – Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to education research, evaluation, and technical assistance, the American Institutes for Research today announced that it will merge with Learning Point Associates, effective August 1, 2010. The union of two of the leading and most influential education research companies in the nation provides a seamless organization of federal, state, and local education knowledge and know how.
As part of the merger, effective September 1, 2010, Learning Point CEO Gina Burkhardt will become an AIR Executive Vice President and will succeed David Myers as Director of AIR’s Education, Human Development and the Workforce (EHDW) Division. EHDW will include Learning Point Associates’ staff as well as AIR’s current EHDW staff, for a total of more than 450 persons.
Also effective September 1, 2010, Dr. Myers will become President of AIR, reporting directly to AIR CEO Sol H. Pelavin, who will remain CEO until December 31, 2010 when Myers succeeds him.
“Learning Point is a true leader when it comes to research and evaluation, direct professional services, and policy knowledge, particularly when at the school, district, and state levels,” Pelavin said. “Its work is a strong complement to the district, state, national, and international education efforts long led by AIR, and we are all quite excited by the impact we will have on our nation’s educational infrastructure.”
“AIR has long stood as the gold standard for behavioral and social science research, particularly in the education sector,” Burkhardt said. “By bringing Learning Point’s significant assets to such a strong organization, we can provide a continuum of research, assessment, and technical assistance at all levels that are unmatched and unrivaled.”
As part of the merger, two members of the Learning Point Associates Board of Directors will join the AIR Board of Directors.
Founded in 1984, Learning Point Associates – a non-partisan, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) began as the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), a single-contract regional organization created by the U.S. Department of Education to provide states with research-based information, best practices, and the technical assistance needed to bridge the gap between education research and education practice. In 2004, NCREL became Learning Point Associates, transforming into a diversified, nonprofit consulting organization with clients of all sizes across the country, from state education agencies and single-school districts to private foundations and for-profit corporations. It continues to run NCREL, now known as Regional Education Laboratory Midwest (REL Midwest).
Founded in 1946, AIR is one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world. The not-for-profit is committed to empowering communities and institutions with innovative solutions to the most critical education, health, workforce, and international development challenges. With 1,500 total global employees, AIR’s foundation is in education research. The organization currently stands as a national leader in teaching and learning improvement, providing the research, assessment, evaluation, and technical assistance to ensure all students – particularly those that face historical disadvantages – have access to a high-quality, effective education.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, AIR has domestic offices in Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Columbus, OH; Concord, MA; Frederick, MD; Honolulu, HI; Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA: San Mateo, CA; and Silver Spring, MD. It also currently works in 27 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South America, and operates project offices in Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Nicaragua, Pakistan, South Africa, and Zambia. Learning Point Associates currently operates offices in Chicago, IL; Naperville, IL; New York, NY; and Washington, DC.
About Learning Point Associates
Learning Point Associates is a nationally recognized, nonprofit education research and consulting organization with 25 years of experience working with educators and policymakers to transform education systems and student learning. The organization’s reputation is built on a solid foundation of designing and conducting rigorous and relevant education research and evaluations; developing and delivering tools, services, and resources targeted at pressing education issues; and analyzing and synthesizing education policy trends and practices. For more information, visit www.learningpt.org.
About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.