As schools worldwide confront rapid technological change, including widespread AI adoption, SRI’s Center for the Future of Education and Technology will equip education systems to evolve and meet the needs of all learners.
SRI today announced the launch of the Center for the Future of Education and Technology (CFET), a new initiative within its Education Division designed to accelerate forward-looking research, innovation, and collaboration at the intersection of education and emerging technologies.
As education systems worldwide confront rapid technological change — particularly the growing influence of artificial intelligence — CFET will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research and development. The center aims to explore and shape the future of teaching and learning, from classroom practices and curriculum design to broader questions about how education systems evolve to meet the needs of all learners.
For more than 50 years, SRI’s Education Division has driven industry-leading research and technical assistance initiatives across a broad range of focus areas, including literacy, AI and technology, early childhood education and development, and the design and scaling of ed tech innovations.
The division’s internal research and development center — the Education Innovation Laboratory — also leads the development of new tools, programs, and other resources designed for educators, administrators, students, and families. CFET builds on this legacy by focusing squarely on the challenges and opportunities that will define education in the years ahead.
“CFET is about creating a home for innovation and inquiry. It’s where ideas, questions, and expertise come together to imagine and build the future of education.” — Leigh Ann DeLyser
“Education has always transformed itself to accommodate new technological advancements, but we are at a pivotal moment where the sheer pace of change is accelerating more than ever before,” said Leigh Ann DeLyser, director of CFET. “With the Center for the Future of Education and Technology, we are creating a space to ask both the big and small questions: What should modern schools look like in the age of AI? How do we define and measure mastery? How can systems better support growth and achievement for all learners?”
CFET will bring together experts across disciplines to examine evolving educational practices, tools, and systems. The center will also focus on ensuring that innovation is grounded in evidence and designed to reduce barriers to access and success.
“The launch of CFET reflects SRI’s commitment to leading the next generation of education research and innovation,” said Todd Grindal, president of SRI’s Education Division. “We are not only responding to change — we are helping to shape it. By combining rigorous research with forward-thinking design and partnerships, CFET will generate insights and solutions that improve outcomes for learners and educators in a rapidly evolving world.”
The center will collaborate with partners across federal and state agencies, foundations, nonprofits, and the private sector to explore new approaches to learning and to develop scalable, impactful solutions. Its work will span emerging technologies, learning sciences, policy, and systems design, with a focus on building more effective education systems.
For more information about CFET and SRI’s work charting the future of education technologies, visit SRI Education.
