EdSource is a hybrid institution. Our staff are public policy and data analysts, researchers, journalists and writers. The education topics we cover are at the nexus of state and federal policy and field reforms.

We are committed to clarifying complex education issues.  To do this work we draw from the best research, data, policies, practice, and ideas available on any topic we address. We augment the knowledge and talents of our small staff of generalists by regularly seeking the perspectives of experts with widely divergent but respected viewpoints.  Some of those experts are on our active and outstanding Board of Directors, but we also send drafts of every report we develop out for review to a wider group of additional 10–20 individuals who vary based upon the report focus.

Our mission calls for EdSource to be independent and impartial.

We achieve this in part by fostering a culture of informed ideas and debate. Our Board of Directors shares a commitment to the importance of a strong public education system in California and the need to improve student achievement, but individuals vary in their perspectives on the challenges and the solutions.

EdSource staff endeavor to approach our studies and other work impartially, with an open mind informed by the best data and evidence but unconstrained by conventional wisdom or by political or cultural ideologies.  We are interested in exploring and discovering what works educationally, for which students, under what conditions. We want to promote understanding of policies and practices that lead to improved student opportunities and outcomes.

To generate topics for our annual slate of publications, EdSource staff track emerging policy discussions, get feedback from the education field, draw from their own readings and knowledge, and regularly seek — at quarterly Board meetings and in between - the informed insights and ideas of members on the EdSource Board of Directors. Based upon all the feedback we gather, staff decide which publication topics to address or analyses to conduct in a given year.

To maintain our independence, the EdSource Board grants the staff editorial control over the agency’s program and reports. Further, EdSource does not relinquish editorial control to outside interests, including funders of the organization.  Although we may suggest policy implications or make recommendations based upon our research, we do not advocate for a narrow agenda, represent constituent interests, or have a “membership.”

Since 1977, EdSource has been trusted for its thoughtful data and policy analysis, clearly written reports, and fairly presented data. Individuals and organizations throughout California and nationally, many of whom may have their own strong agendas, trust EdSource for having no agenda other than to provide the highest quality information about education in California in order to promote more thoughtful decisions about school improvement.

EdSource’s primary audiences for our work—the research we conduct, reports we publish, the events we sponsor —are administrators and educators in California’s K–12 school districts and sites; the education media; and state and federal policymakers and government officials. We share our information generously with civic, community, parent, and business groups. We work often and collaboratively with university faculty and other researchers, many of whom use EdSource publications as part of their required reading in education policy or administrative and teacher credentialing programs. The self-reported profile of visitors to EdSource’s website is approximately:

• 43% K–12 practitioners (including 25% teacher/staff, 10% site administrators, 6% district administration or board; 2% product/service provider/consultants);
• 20% 4-year university faculty, administrators, students, or independent researchers along with 4% community college faculty, administrators or students;
• 7% parents or PTA/O organizations;
• 4% advocacy, business, civic groups;
• 3% government or policymakers; 2% media; and
• 17% other.

Of the total visitors, approximately 30% come from outside of California.

The Topics We Cover Most Often

Although California has a plethora of important education policy and school reform policies to address, EdSource reports most often on issues where we can offer the most added value based upon staff knowledge, other sources of information available, and the importance and timeliness of the issue. Topic areas we report on most regularly include:

• School Funding
• Comprehensive Systemic Policy Reforms in School Finance, Governance, Education Data Systems
• K–12 Academic Standards, Curriculum, Assessment, Accountability
• Student Achievement Trends
• Secondary and Post Secondary Student Achievement and Related Policy and Field Reforms
• California Charter School Performance and Policy
• Administrative Leadership and Teacher Capacity

What Sets EdSource Apart

Independence and impartiality, in a large and complex state where the education policy environment is crowded with advocates and activists on most every issue.

A mission to clarify California’s complex education issues so that more thoughtful policy and practice decisions can be made, with no other agenda of our own.

Consistently high standards for quality, integrity, and balance of analysis and data, and for clarity of writing and communications.

A staff of policy and data analysts integrated with journalists and communications specialists augmented by a Board of respected experts with varying perspectives and a growing circle of academic researchers with whom we collaborate and share information.

A 30-year history, high credibility, and growing visibility, which is contributing significantly to our reach and impact.

An extensive network of constituents across a wide range of K–14 stakeholders.

A regular and consistent publication schedule of at least six reports each year and an impressive distribution network.

A wide and deep level of brand recognition in California’s school districts and County Offices of Education, as well as strong connections in the education policy community.

Unusually high productivity for an organization our size.  In the 2007–08 year, EdSource:

• researched, wrote, and published 10 reports and collateral publications totaling 174 pages.
• distributed 46,000 reports to our 652 Information Service subscribers from school districts and County Offices of Education; another 158,000 were downloaded by individuals off the EdSource website.
• hosted a California Convening on Education Policy in Sacramento in October 2007 attended by over 433 policymakers and opinion leaders.
• hosted our annual Forum on California Education Policy in the Bay Area in April attended by over 300 K–14 stakeholders.
• posted a great quantity of free web content on EdSource.org; more than 745,000 unique visitors logged onto EdSource.org and the Education Data Partnership website, which is also supported by EdSource.  
• developed and mailed 6,000 copies each of three EdSource Extra newsletters; and sent a dozen email bulletins out announcing events and activities to the 16,000 individuals on our email listserv (an increase of over 330% in the past three years).
• was cited in newspaper stories about education issues 81 times last year–the most ever in a year where no major original research was released by the organization.

Sources of Funding

EdSource has several multi-year general operating grants and a variety of special project grants from private foundations and major donors. In addition, we have an earned income stream from subscriptions to our publications, registrations to our annual public Forum, and a contract to support work on the Education Data Partnership website.

EdSource is grateful for our philanthropic investors and their confidence in our work.  If you are interested in learning more about EdSource, arranging a site visit, or hearing about the projects for which we are seeking funding in the 2008-09 year, please contact Trish Williams, Executive Director.