CEPA Labs is a branch of the Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA) at Stanford University focused on the intersection of technology, information and behavior change. CEPA Labs has three primary goals. The first is to generate new theories on why some educators -- broadly defined to include parents, teachers and school administrators -- fail to take up or under-invest in educational practices with demonstrated benefits. The second goal of CEPA Labs is to test these theories by conducting experimental and quasi-experimental research on information technologies designed to minimize the barriers associated with the full uptake of beneficial practices. CEPA Labs’ third goal is to significantly expand access to these technologies, both nationally and internationally.
To pursue these goals, CEPA Labs will engage in four activities. First, it will rapidly expand and experimentally test Ready4K, a text messaging program for parents of preschoolers with demonstrated efficacy. Second, CEPA Labs will partner with education technology organizations such as GreatSchools to test behavior change theories in a broad range of information technology environments. Third, the Labs will, independently and/or with its partners, develop and test new information technologies, such as web and mobile applications and wearable devices. Finally, CEPA Labs will convene researchers and practitioners with interests in these new approaches to refine understandings and develop strategies for future learning.