The purpose of the Research Branch is to:
Create and implement a research agenda to support the Maryland State Department of Education’s mission;
Support and assess MSDE’s progress toward its mission by describing data; supporting evidence-based decision-making; evaluating the implementation and outcomes of state programs; conducting large-scale empirical research; and supporting MSDE’s offices and divisions to do the same;
Support Maryland’s local school systems in using data, conducting original research, and making evidence-based decisions and policies.
Doing Research with MSDE
If you are interested in doing research with the Maryland State Department of Education, either by using Maryland's data or collecting your own, please visit
Doing Research with MSDE.
The Office conducts many research activities internally, especially those related to current state initiatives. It also coordinates with the
Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center and MSDE’s external research partners in implementing the agency’s research agenda. The Office will consider proposals from independent, nonpartisan researchers interested in conducting work in Maryland.
Enrollment, attendance, graduation rate, assessment results, and other supporting data at the school, county, and state levels are available on the
Maryland Report Card and can be
downloaded directly.
Requests for school- or state-level data, or other data covered by the Maryland Public Information Act can be submitted with the
Public Information Officer.
If you are requesting MSDE staff fill out a survey or answer questions related to state policy or programs, please contact the
Division of Student Support, Academic Enrichment & Educational Policy.