Organization description

The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) has spent more than 35 years studying the education systems of top performing countries. NCEE’s Blueprint: Designing Systems That Work draws on the lessons of top-performing, future-oriented systems around the world to provide a pathway forward for U.S. districts and states. NCEE is dedicated to supporting education leaders and practitioners, policymakers, researchers and community stakeholders to study, design and build equitable, high-performing, and learner-centered education systems that accelerate student learning and well-being. The students these systems educate will be prepared to contribute to society and compete in the global economy.

In 2024, NCEE merged with Educurious, an education nonprofit that aims to capture the imagination and interest of youth by integrating project-based learning (PBL), connections with real-world experts, technology, and career exploration to create meaningful learning and cultivate contemporary skills. Educurious’ work originated as a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant in partnership with the University of Washington, based on the learning science principles of how and why people learn. The Educurious approach to PBL in social studies energizes and inspires students to gain content knowledge while building skills in communication, collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Throughout each project, students engage in deep, relevant, engaging learning experiences that prepare them for success in school and beyond.