About

About ResearchILD

Our mission is simple: When students learn how to learn, they develop the persistence and resilience they need to succeed in school and in life. 

The Research Institute for Learning and Development, (ResearchILD) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that researches, develops, and distributes strategies for students with executive function challenges. We work in underserved communities, including the Boston Public Schools where so many students struggle to learn. SMARTS strategies empower ALL students to organize, prioritize, memorize, think flexibly, and check their academic work.  Developing strong executive function strategies provides students with a strong foundation for learning and promotes academic and life success.  

During the 2020-2021 school year, we launched the Executive Function and Equity Fellowship, bringing together educators from across the country to explore how schools are addressing students’ executive function needs through an equity lens. Executive function (EF) processes are critically important for learning and social behavior. Research has shown that executive function mediates SES disparities in school achievement; therefore, interventions targeting executive function could help to close the SES-related achievement gap. For more information on executive function and equity, please review ResearchILD’s white paper here.

Wouldn’t it be Great to Live in a World Where All Students Could Learn How to Learn?

Dr. Lynn Meltzer

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We need your support today to bring the power of SMARTS to every classroom, so that all students can have the opportunity to achieve academic and life success