IREPP's mission is to support high quality, multi-disciplinary empirical research that is informed by collaboration with stakeholders and practitioners and that, in turn, informs the improvement of education policy and practice.

The focus of the research is on pressing questions in education policy, particularly those related to finance and governance; human resources such as the skills, recruitment and retention of effective teachers and administrators; the reduction of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic achievement disparities; and the needs of immigrant students and English Language learners. 

To facilitate this work, the institute develops and maintains data systems and instruments for measurement and promotes the use of these resources for developing evidence to improve education.  As part of its mission, IREPP also seeks to support the development of a new professoriate skilled in the design and conduct of large-scale quantitative investigations of such educational phenomena.

 IREPP is a member of the Education Policy Alliance - a network of university-based research units that provide high quality research on significant education policy and practice issues.