About Us
Our work focuses on helping K-12 schools become future-oriented organizations that build upon their traditional strengths to better serve the students of today and tomorrow.
As part of the College of Education, we Think and Do by inviting and challenging others to innovate with us. Informed by cutting-edge research and in collaboration with partners in education, government and private industries, we empower educators and their students to be forward-thinking learners and leaders. In this manner, we contribute to the social and economic well being of North Carolina and help our schools meet the challenges of preparing students for the global workforce.
Our work is consistent with both the research and land-grant outreach mission of NC State University and its College of Education. We are located on NC State’s Centennial Campus, where university, corporate and government organizations partner with faculty and students in a highly innovative environment.
We are proud to be named in honor of William Friday, former president of the University of North Carolina system, and his wife, Ida, who were passionate advocates and leaders in education for over 50 years.
Our Vision
All learners are prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Our Mission
Advancing K-12 education through innovation in teaching, learning and leadership, we bring together students, teachers, researchers, policymakers and educational professionals to foster collaborations that improve education for all learners.
How We Think and Do
In our work we connect thought and action. We think creatively and act thoughtfully to improve educational outcomes for all learners. Much of our work results in tangible and impactful products, services, and applications. We educate in order to empower policy makers, educators and learners. We innovate to transform ideas into actions. We inspire and motivate others to promote systemic change.
We think and do in order to:
- EDUCATE by conducting professional learning, research and evaluation.
- INNOVATE by designing supports, tools and structures for educational change.
- INSPIRE by convening and catalyzing stakeholders to inform standards, policy and practice.
Our Impact
Our work is shaped by a theory of change. This framework is how we gauge milestones of progress in three significant areas of impact:
- Cultivating equity in education through equity-mindedness
- Amplifying teaching and learning through technology
- Creating capacity for innovation across education systems
To learn more about how our work is organized, see our list of project teams.
Our Culture
We are self-starters who are mission driven with a passion for purposeful educational innovation and cultivating equity-mindedness for systemic change. We value collaboration and celebrate doing good work that supports educators and students. No idea is too big, too small, or too complex — we’ll take it on. We take our work seriously, placing people and ideas at the center of everything we do.
Our Partnership with Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School
Strategic Plan
2021 Strategic Plan
2018 Strategic Plan
2010 Strategic Plan
Annual Reports
Land Acknowledgement
NC State University is a land-grant institution for the people of North Carolina and respectfully acknowledges that the lands within and surrounding present-day Raleigh are the traditional homelands and gathering places of many Indigenous peoples, including eight federally and state-recognized tribes: Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan. We share an ongoing responsibility to safeguard these lands and to respect the sovereignty of the tribes and Indigenous nations residing in North Carolina. NC State honors all Indigenous peoples who have been and continue to be an integral part of our university’s history and culture.