The Addy Foundation
Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE)

We provide research and evaluation services related to education and human development. We focus on evaluation and applied research aimed at understanding and improving programs, policies, and practices to improve the health and well-being of individuals, schools, organizations, and communities.

$3.5 Million Gift from The Addy Foundation

The Addy Foundation Center on Research and Evaluation

A $3.5 million gift from The Addy Foundation to the ҽAnnette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development will ensure the long-term success of the Center on Research and Evaluation, a vital community partner for education-related organizations across Dallas and Texas.

Newly named in its tenth year of operation at SMU, The Addy Foundation Center on Research and Evaluation conducts comprehensive evaluations that focus on improving programs and demonstrating impact. Its researchers and analysts provide actionable data to partners about how program implementation is proceeding, how well goals are being reached, and what changes could and should be made to improve outcomes.

About our Work

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APL Logo: Active Playful Learning. Joyful Teaching. Deeper Learning.

Active Playful Learning

CORE serves as the Texas site lead for a multi-year study on the impact of , funded by the LEGO Foundation. The APL initiative, led by a team of early childhood education researchers and leaders, will implement APL coaching in 4 distinct districts. APL promotes active, engaged, meaningful, socially interactive, iterative, and joyful learning.

ҽMethodist University (SMU) College Access Programs logo

College Access

CORE collaborates with its Simmons College Access colleagues to study the outcomes of programs like Upward Bound and McNair.

Child Care Associates logo

Early Learning Assessment

CORE provides comprehensive early learning assessment, reporting, and evaluation services to Child Care Associates, located in Fort Worth, Texas. Child Care Associates provides high-quality early learning experiences to young children, delivers child care financial assistance and other vital resources to parents, and offers professional development opportunities to educators.

Class logo

CLASS™

CORE serves as a data partner to multiple early childhood organizations utilizing the CLASS™ tool to improve classroom instruction. CORE trains observers on the CLASS™ observation system, maintains secure data, and develops formative reports and presentations for the district, feeder patterns, individual schools and individual teachers as well as non-profit partners and funders.

Expanded Learning Information System logo

Expanded Learning Information System

CORE is partnering with Big Thought, Dallas Afterschool and Dallas ISD to provide the Expanded Learning Information System (ELIS), a shared data system that streamlines and supports data collection and data usage for after and summer school sites across the city of Dallas.

West Dallas Stem School - Toyota, SMU, Dallas ISD

West Dallas STEM School

CORE serves a critical operations and support role for the West Dallas STEM School project. The STEM school is a collaboration between Simmons School of Education and Human Development, DallasISD, and the Toyota Foundation to plan, implement and support a PreK-8 STEM School in West Dallas.

Teach for America logo

Teach for America

CORE is a long-term research, evaluation and thought partner for Teach For America. Teach For America works to advance educational excellence and equity in the US through a network of diverse leaders working to expand access and opportunity to all children.

  • First page image of the consortium on educational research and improvement (CERI) fact sheet document.

    Consortium on Educational Research and Improvement (CERI)

    What is CERI? The Consortium on Educational Research and Improvement (CERI or “the Consortium”) is a collaboration between ҽMethodist University (SMU) and the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD). ҽand Dallas ISD are working together to identify and support mutually beneficial research, evaluation and improvement projects. Learn more about CERI.

    Download the CERI Fact Sheet

  • The Mission of CORE

    The Mission of CORE

    The Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE) is dedicated to supporting and expanding SMU’s commitment to teaching, research, and service in communities and the larger global society. CORE conducts high-quality collaborative research and evaluation to drive positive and sustainable change in individuals, schools, organizations and communities.

    Download the CORE information sheet