The Center for P–16 Research and Collaboration at the IU School of Education was founded in 2006 to facilitate partnerships that lead to improvement in education from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education (P–16). The overarching goal of the P–16 Center is to improve college access and success, especially for students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education, by strengthening pre-college preparation and transitions to college. In addition to college access and retention, several of the P–16 Center’s funded projects focus on enhancing mathematics, science, and technology education, which are foundational areas to college success.

The Center has faculty and staff who have expertise in forming and sustaining school-university partnerships. These strategic partnerships involve better understanding the current needs of schools and bringing together the groups within IU, schools, communities, and businesses that can address the complex challenge of improving education. The P–16 Center supports school partners by facilitating research collaboration, multidisciplinary partnerships, professional development, grantswriting, and direct service to students.