University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is a nonprofit research-practice partnership founded in 1990 that conducts rigorous longitudinal educational research on Chicago Public Schools, developing validated survey instruments and frameworks to improve K-12 outcomes and inform education policy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What University of Chicago Consortium on School Research does
The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is a nonprofit research-practice partnership founded in 1990 and housed within the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago. The organization conducts rigorous, longitudinal educational research focused primarily on Chicago Public Schools (CPS), with the stated objective of informing policy and practice to improve outcomes for students. The Consortium is staffed by approximately 31 people across roles including Research Professors, Managing Directors, Senior Research Scientists, Research Analysts, and Communications staff, and operates under a multipartisan Steering Committee that includes CPS, the Chicago Teachers Union, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, and the Illinois State Board of Education.
The Consortium's core products are validated survey instruments and research frameworks. The 5Essentials Survey measures five organizational conditions (Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environment, Ambitious Instruction) and has been administered to more than 5,000,000 teachers and students across nearly 6,000 schools nationally. The Cultivate Survey measures nine learning conditions and student beliefs about themselves as learners; the Essential 0-5 Survey extends the franchise into early childhood education in partnership with Start Early. Predictive indicators include Freshman OnTrack (based on credit accumulation and attendance) and Sophomore Success, while frameworks such as Foundations for Young Adult Success and the Whole School Safety Framework guide schools and districts. Survey results and reporting are delivered through an online dashboard operated in partnership with UChicago Impact. The Consortium has produced 323+ publications covering early childhood through college and career.
The Consortium's business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. Funding sources include the Gates Foundation, Wallace Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, McDougal Family Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Institute of Educational Sciences, and the U.S. Department of Education, supplemented by institutional support from the University of Chicago. All publications, surveys, and resources are provided free of charge. The Consortium's research-practice partnership model with CPS has inspired more than 70 similar partnerships across cities and states, with international replication of the 5Essentials framework in Chile, England, and South Africa. Findings are distributed through the website, email newsletters, the GO FIGURE video series, the Prep Period podcast, social media, and earned media in outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, Education Week, and Chalkbeat.
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
- Legal name
- University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
- Website
- https://consortium.uchicago.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is a nonprofit research-practice partnership founded in 1990 that conducts rigorous longitudinal educational research on Chicago Public Schools, developing validated survey instruments and frameworks to improve K-12 outcomes and inform education policy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Research
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Educational Research, Measurement & Evaluation Programs (EDAHAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research (EDADADAH)
Keywords
Where University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Government Grants: Primary funding from granting institutions supporting individual research programs, research outreach, and publication activities. Major funders include the Gates Foundation, National Science Foundation, Institute of Educational Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, and numerous family foundations.
- University of Chicago Support: Institutional support from the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago, providing infrastructure and academic affiliation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The UChicago Consortium conducts rigorous, longitudinal educational research on Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and develops validated survey instruments (5Essentials, Cultivate, Essential 0-5) that measure school climate, learning conditions, and organizational factors affecting student outcomes. It produces research publications, briefs, and family resources, and partners with UChicago Impact to deliver online reporting dashboards.
Product overview
The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research operates as a research-practice partnership conducting educational research on Chicago Public Schools. Its core offerings center on survey-based measurement tools (5Essentials Survey, Cultivate Survey, Early Education Essentials) that assess school climate, learning conditions, and organizational factors affecting student outcomes. These surveys are complemented by a dynamic online reporting system (partnered with UChicago Impact) that provides actionable data for school improvement. The Consortium also produces research publications, briefs, and family playbooks that translate survey and research findings into practical guidance for educators, families, and policymakers. The work spans early childhood through college/career readiness, with key research indicators including Freshman OnTrack and Sophomore Success measures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 5Essentials Survey
Quantifiable outcome
- Schools strong in 3 of 5 essentials are 10x more likely to improve than schools weak in 3+ essentials
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Chicago Public Schools (CPS)corePrimary research-practice partnership established in 1990. Consortium collaborates closely with CPS asking policymakers and practitioners to help shape research so it is relevant to problems of practice. This partnership inspired more than 70 other cities and states to create similar partnerships.
- Urban Education Institute (UEI)coreThe consortium is based at the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago, providing institutional support and academic affiliation.
- Illinois State Board of EducationflagshipInstitutional member of the consortium's multipartisan Steering Committee, providing state-level perspective on education policy and research needs.
- Chicago Teachers UnionflagshipInstitutional member of the Steering Committee, ensuring educator perspectives are represented in research priorities.
- Chicago Principals and Administrators AssociationflagshipInstitutional member providing leadership perspective on school improvement research needs.
- UChicago ImpactcorePartnership to provide dynamic online reporting systems for 5Essentials and Cultivate Survey data, helping educators explore student perspectives and build improvement strategies.
- Start EarlycorePartnership to adapt 5Essentials Survey for early childhood education programs (Essential 0-5 Survey), capturing organizational climate in ECE settings.
- University of IllinoiscorePartner in Whole School Safety study examining effects of removing school resource officers and developing the Whole School Safety Framework.
- Lurie Children's Hospital - Center for Childhood ResiliencecorePartner in Whole School Safety research studying school climate, discipline outcomes, and community-based safety approaches.
- Ingenuity (Chicago)corePartnership on Arts Education and Social-Emotional Learning research, reviewing literature and conducting fieldwork with educators and students.
- NORC at the University of ChicagocoreResearch partner on A Path to Equity study examining pre-k policy changes and student outcomes.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Learning Policy Institute: Education research organization producing policy analyses on K–12 issues including educator preparation, equity, and student outcomes; directly comparable in mission, funder mix, and policy-facing outputs.
- American Institutes for Research (AIR): Large nonprofit behavioral and social science research organization with substantial K–12 assessment, evaluation, and policy research practice; directly comparable given parallel survey-based assessment offerings and federal funding.
- Mathematica: Nonprofit education and social policy research firm that designs and evaluates K–12 programs and surveys; highly comparable as a research-practice partner delivering rigorous evidence to school districts and federal agencies.
- Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA): University-based education policy research center producing rigorous quantitative research on K–12 outcomes; directly comparable given shared academic affiliation and longitudinal analytical approach.
- WestEd: Nonprofit education research and development organization serving K–12 systems with surveys, evaluation, and policy research; highly comparable given its practitioner-focused research and assessment work.
- MDRC: Nonprofit social and education policy research organization focused on rigorous evaluations of programs serving low-income populations; closely comparable mission and operating model as an evidence-based policy research institute.
- RAND Corporation: Large nonprofit research organization with a long-standing education and child policy research portfolio operating a similar research-practice model; directly comparable as a policy research institution with education focus and federal/foundation funding mix.
Emerging players
- Education Trust: Education equity research and advocacy organization producing data-driven analyses of K–12 outcomes; partial overlap with the Consortium's equity-oriented work, though more advocacy-focused than research-practice.
- NWEA: Nonprofit research and assessment organization providing widely used K–12 assessments and growth research; partial overlap through the survey-based measurement space and K–12 research dissemination.
Broad incumbents
- Urban Institute: Large nonprofit economic and social policy research organization with a significant education policy center; broader portfolio but materially comparable as a D.C.-anchored policy research nonprofit serving federal and state clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Chicago Consortium on School Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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University of Chicago Consortium on School Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
What does University of Chicago Consortium on School Research do?
The UChicago Consortium conducts rigorous, longitudinal educational research on Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and develops validated survey instruments (5Essentials, Cultivate, Essential 0-5) that measure school climate, learning conditions, and organizational factors affecting student outcomes. It produces research publications, briefs, and family resources, and partners with UChicago Impact to deliver online reporting dashboards.
Is University of Chicago Consortium on School Research a public or private company?
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Chicago Consortium on School Research founded?
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is University of Chicago Consortium on School Research based?
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of Chicago Consortium on School Research make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are university of Chicago Support.
Who are University of Chicago Consortium on School Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Learning Policy Institute, American Institutes for Research (AIR), Mathematica, Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA), WestEd, MDRC and RAND Corporation. Emerging players are Education Trust and NWEA. Urban Institute is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does University of Chicago Consortium on School Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Chicago Consortium on School Research.
What industry is University of Chicago Consortium on School Research in?
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research's product category is Education Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAFAL, Educational Research, Measurement & Evaluation Programs, with a secondary code of EDADADAH, Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.