Purpose

Who We Are

The IAEP Center is an interdisciplinary research, policy, and capacity-building center housed within San José State University’s Lurie College of Education.

Founded by a new generation of CSU faculty committed to educational improvement and systemic change, the Center works to strengthen the capacity of California’s educational systems to better serve students, educators, families, and communities. While our work increasingly addresses the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, our commitment to educational equity and opportunity remains central to our mission.

The IAEP Center serves as a knowledge network hub that connects university researchers, educational leaders, policymakers, and practitioners across California and beyond. Through strategic partnerships with TK–12 schools, county offices of education, higher education institutions, and community organizations, we promote the synergistic use of interdisciplinary and interprofessional perspectives to address complex educational challenges and support sustainable school improvement.

By bridging research, policy, and practice, the Center helps educational organizations develop evidence-informed approaches to teaching, learning, assessment, leadership, and innovation. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded within educational environments, IAEP is emerging as a leading resource for schools, districts, universities, and policymakers seeking thoughtful, human-centered approaches to AI integration, deeper learning, and educational transformation.

Our Mission

The mission of the IAEP Center is to build the capacity of educational systems to navigate change, improve outcomes, and foster deeper learning in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Through applied research, evaluation, policy development, professional learning, and strategic partnerships, the Center brings expertise in assessment for deeper learning, feedback and continuous improvement systems, educational leadership, teacher development, and human-centered AI practice.

We work with educators, policymakers, universities, and community organizations to design and support educational environments where innovation strengthens—not replaces—human judgment, equity. excellence , creativity, and meaningful learning.

Vision

We envision educational systems where innovation and emerging technologies expand opportunities for learning without compromising human creativity, professional expertise, ethical decision-making, or educational equity.

Through research, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships, we seek to help educational organizations create learning environments where all students can thrive, contribute, and participate meaningfully in a rapidly changing society.

Our Expertise

The IAEP Center combines expertise in educational measurement, classroom assessment, teacher preparation and training, leadership development, program evaluation, and human-centered AI practice. Our interdisciplinary approach allows us to connect research, policy, and practice in ways that help educational organizations address immediate challenges while building long-term capacity for innovation and improvement. We work across silos and seek solutions that elevate interprofessional and interdisciplinary perspectives for meaningful educational change.

Why We Serve

Educational systems are experiencing profound changes driven by advances in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, workforce transformation, and shifting expectations for learning.

These changes create both opportunities and challenges.

Schools and universities must now prepare learners not only to use emerging technologies, but also to think critically about them, evaluate information responsibly, exercise sound judgment, and participate ethically in increasingly complex knowledge environments.

The IAEP Center exists to help educational leaders navigate these challenges by connecting research, policy, and practice in ways that strengthen educational systems and support deeper learning for all students.

The Challenge We Address

The IAEP Center provides a powerful avenue for cross disciplinary faculty research, including rethinking the master’s and doctoral student mentoring and preparation for leadership across the professions. The Center also ensures the CSU’s continued and emerging role as a technical assistance provider for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), while serving as a clearinghouse using research-driven collaborative partnerships that are committed to interdisciplinary and interprofessional solutions.

Areas of Focus

Focus 1: Capacity Building for Educational Innovation

Supporting schools, districts, universities, and educational organizations as they navigate emerging challenges and opportunities in teaching, learning, assessment, leadership, and artificial intelligence.

We help educational leaders build organizational capacity to support deeper learning, ethical innovation, and continuous improvement through evidence-informed professional learning and strategic planning.

Focus 2: Research, Evaluation, and Systems Improvement

Conducting applied research and evaluation that generates actionable evidence for educational improvement.

Our work helps organizations understand what is working, identify areas for growth, and make informed decisions that strengthen programs, policies, and learning outcomes.

Focus 3: Policy, Practice, and Human-Centered AI Innovation

Bridging research, policy, and practice through collaborative partnerships focused on educational equity and excellence. Our approach integrates assessment for deeper learning, teacher professional judgment, and responsible types of AI integration that promotes genuine deeper learning.

Our work on educational program development is informed by the Five Pillars of Practice (5POP) framework—Accuracy, Agency, Accessibility, Assessment for Deeper Learning, and Authenticity. Each pillar provides educators and policymakers with practical principles for evaluating and implementing AI in support of human-centered learning.

We develop research-based frameworks, tools, and resources that help educators and policymakers navigate complex educational challenges while championing meaningful learning opportunities for students.