Think Tanks

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This page provides links to think tanks, which are non-profit organizations that provide analysis and research intended to influence public policy.

It is often difficult to discern a think tank's political orientation. I've shared some information about the organizations' ideologies in the annotations on this page. You'll also find a more complete listing on page 542 of M. Ahmad's article "US Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise: Role, Value and Impact", which appears in volume 79(4) of Political Quarterly.

Google Scholar allows you search for think tank reports and scholarly journal articles at the same time. However, if you only search Google Scholar you are very likely to miss some good think tank reports and journal articles. The key to conducting high-quality, comprehensive research is to use the tools as complimentary resources.

Also, Harvard University offers a customized feature that enables users to search more than 400 think tanks.

The following are a few think tank websites that may be helpful. If you identify others sites that you like, please email me and I will add them to this list.

Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is one of the most cited think tanks. Often considered centrist, Brookings has been referred to as both a liberal and conservative organization by major media outlets.
Cato Institue
The Cato Institute states that it is "dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace." Cato advocates a libertarian ideology. Its website includes topic areas covering early childhood, higher education, school choice, federal education policy and public schools.
Center for Best Practices
The Center for Best Practices is a non-profit division of the National Governors Association. Its target audience is state governors and their staff. There is a section dedicated to education-related issues.
Congressional Research Service Reports
"CRS reports provide Congress with both anticipatory and on-demand research and analysis to support their legislative, oversight, and representational duties. All reports adhere to the core values of CRS; they are authoritative, objective and nonpartisan. Reports range in length from several pages to more than one-hundred pages and cover the full breadth of topics of interest to Congress."
The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank. Its mission is "to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."
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Heritage Foundation's website states "Effective education policy includes returning authority to the states and empowering parents with the opportunity to choose a safe and effective education for their children from among public, private, charter, and home school opportunities." The Foundation's website includes subtopics covering early childhood education, higher education, school choice and K-12 education.
Rand Corporation
Unlike many think tanks, Rand aims to be non-ideological. Its mission is "to help policymakers make decisions that are based on the best available information." RAND's research on pre-K, K-12, and higher education covers issues such as assessment and accountability, choice-based and standards-based school reform, vocational training, and the value of arts education and policy in sustaining communities and promoting a well-rounded community.
The Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is generally considered left-leaning. Their website includes subsections covering education reform/NCLB, elementary and secondary schools, employment and education, performance evaluations, school finance and teachers.

PSC 201 - Education Politics & Policy: Think Tanks

About this Page

Think Tanks