The research mission of ISAAC is to create a community of scholars who formulate and contribute to a research agenda with the fundamental purpose of closing the achievement gap and enhancing the achievement of academic excellence on the part of African American children. The Culturally Appropriate Pedagogy Model is the cornerstone of the Institute’s programmatic efforts. According to this model, the solution to creating educational excellence for African American children is found in the classroom, in the activity between teacher and child. The key to effectively teaching children lies in the instructional leadership provided by principals. Meeting the needs of diverse learners in urban and rural classrooms involves the school becoming the coordinator of support services such as tutoring and mentoring provided by concerned citizens, service clubs, churches and fraternal organizations.

Programmatically, the research component of the Institute will be achieved through major functions and activities:

Conference on Research Directions (CORD)

A forum for those involved in all aspects of research on African American children in school.

The conference on Research Directions will be held at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island South Carolina as a biannual event beginning on April 26-29, 2009. This multidisplinary conference will be created by researchers specifically for researchers. It is a unique 2-1/2 day meeting focusing on methodological advances, research in progress, issues in conducting research, innovative approaches to combining methodologies, and controversial topics in African American education. All of the attendees present their own research during the conference. It also provide a unique opportunity for graduate students to present their work in progress and receive guidance and suggestions from those who have firmly established themselves in the field of research.

Presenters at CORD will be encouraged to design panel or poster presentation that create dialogue around compelling research issues. Possible research topics include research methodologies, intervention, assessment, measuring outcomes and other complex child and family variables, service systems, policy, and personnel development related to African American children in school.