Responding to Today’s Greatest Needs

To make a meaningful difference, we are focusing our work where the need is greatest, where we have something significant to contribute, and where there is potential for collaboration with people and organizations that share our goals.

• Leadership and policy are two such places. They are also areas that compel our attention if there is to be systemic change in schools and schooling.
• For the future of our economic and social health, investment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is fundamental. Such investment would also build on an already strong history of excellence in these fields at UC Davis.
• There may be few trends emerging over the horizon of greater significance than the growth in autism-spectrum disorders. While research to find causes and cures is advancing, we need to know much more about how to effectively educate children with autism. In partnership with the world leader in autism research – the UC Davis MIND Institute – we are building strength in the field of education and neurodevelopmental disorders to bring critical information to educators that will translate into successful practice.
• California is home to one of the most multicultural populations on the planet. This extraordinary cultural diversity brings significant social and economic benefit. At the same time, with substantial numbers of English learners and students needing to acquire proficiency in the academic language of our classrooms, there is
  great need for educators to enhance their knowledge and skills to help prepare these students to become highly engaged, academically accomplished, and productive citizens. Continuing to build capacity in this area addresses this critical need, while
  leveraging the School of Education’s core strengths.