Welcome

Welcome to the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute, a program of the Office for Public Policy Outreach at VCU.

Located within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, the institute is committed to the expansion of public dialogue and participation in the important issues facing PK-12 and higher public education. The institute provides non-partisan policy analysis to the public and education policymakers. In addition to contracted research projects, CEPI conducts the Commonwealth Education Poll and provides weekly updates from the General Assembly session about education-related issues as a public service.

While many regional and national organizations provide outstanding resources for educational decision-makers, CEPI is the first institute to focus primarily on policies developed and implemented in Virginia. Our goal is to serve as a resource for the governor’s staff, legislators, state agencies, local school boards and administrators as they work to shape educational policies for the more than 1 million public school students of the commonwealth.

We are excited to work with you in our shared commitment to the importance of public education. I invite you to explore our website, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our digital publications — General Assembly Updates and Compass Point, our monthly electronic newsletter— to stay up-to-date on issues and events affecting education in Virginia.

We hope these non-advocacy briefings will provide insight and assistance to citizens and policymakers in the important public dialogue relating to PK-12 and higher education.

We welcome you to visit us frequently and look forward to your comments.

Grant Rissler, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Office of Public Policy Outreach