Education Development Center
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is a nonprofit research and development organization[1] with headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, and offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and other locations in the United States and around the world. EDC has 1,400 employees who develop and implement programs in education, health, and international development.
EDC is known for creating the curriculum Man: A Course of Study. The organization was founded (as Educational Services, Inc.) by Jerrold Zacharias, who started the Physical Science Study Committee, credited with changing physics education in the United States. .[2][3][4][5] In a number of countries, EDC uses technology, most notably radio, to provide educational opportunities for hard to reach learners. For instance, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia, EDC and its partners used radio to provide lessons to students whose schools were closed due to the disease.[6] Research conducted by EDC on teen smoking, has been cited by numerous communities and states as they consider raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21.[7][8]
Named twice to The Boston Globe’s “Top Places to Work,” [9] [10] EDC maintains a staff composed of scientists, researchers, mathematicians, educators, and health and technology specialists. Staff expertise includes research, training, policy, curriculum and materials development, and education technology, and their activities range from small seed projects to large-scale national and international initiatives.
Leadership
EDC's president and Chief Executive Officer is David Offensend. Previously, Offensend was chief operating officer at the New York Public Library, the nation's largest public library system.
A 12-member Board of Trustees is chaired by Marvin J. Suomi, chair of KUD International.
Vision
EDC envisions a world where all people are empowered to lead healthy, productive lives.
Mission
EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide.
Our Work
EDC works in all 50 states and in more than 20 countries. EDC's work focuses on: 1. Elementary and Secondary Education 2. Early childhood development and learning 3. STEM 4. Youth workforce development 5. Out of School Learning 6. Injury, Violence, and Suicide Prevention 7. Behavioral, Physical, and Mental Health 8. HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health 9. Substance Abuse, Prevention, and Treatment 10. Capacity Building for Individuals, Organizations, and Systems [11]
Collaborating with both public and private partners, we provide strategic, cost-effective solutions that are responsive to the cultures, realities, and needs of the communities and consumers we work with. Our services include Design and Development, Evaluation, Implementation, Policy and Research.
References
- ^ "EDC". Education Development Center, Inc. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ^ "Reflecting on Sputnik - Lappan 3". Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ^ http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/zacharias-jerrold.pd
- ^ https://philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofit-Uses-Radio-for/152257
- ^ Norman F. Ramsey. "Jerrold R. Zacharias (1905-1986)" (PDF). National Academy of Sciences website. Retrieved 6/15/2016
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2014/1019/As-Ebola-relief-ramps-up-other-aid-efforts-stumble-in-West-Africa
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-smoking-addiction-idUSKCN0Q52IL20150731
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2016/0505/Will-voters-try-to-repeal-California-s-21-smoking-age-law-video
- ^ http://archive.boston.com/business/special/topplaces/2008/profiles/education_development_center.htm
- ^ http://archive.boston.com/business/special/topplaces/2009/profiles/education_development_center.htm
- ^ http://www.edc.org/our-work/