Education Research Center
The University of Texas at Dallas Education Research Center (UT Dallas ERC) facilitates research to benefit education in Texas by providing researchers with access to individual administrative data through the state of Texas Education Research Center Program.
Starting with de-identified, individual-level data provided by the Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Workforce Commission and National Student Clearinghouse, the UT Dallas ERC creates research-ready datasets that have been standardized and documented. Researchers then use these data in approved investigations to inform education policy and practice.
The UT Dallas ERC was established in 2007 as a result of legislation passed in the 79th Texas legislative session which authorized the Education Research Center program in Texas. Researchers interested in using these data must submit a proposal to the UT Dallas ERC, which is reviewed internally and then submitted for review and approval by the ERC Advisory Board.
ERC Advisory Board
The ERC Advisory Board governs and oversees the operations of the three state-authorized ERCs. The Board is composed of officials from TEA, THECB, and TWC; the directors of the three state-authorized ERCs; and leaders from school and community college districts. The role of the Board is to review proposed research studies to assess the extent to which they meet the legislative mandate of the ERC program. The Board meets quarterly to evaluate proposed research studies, assess requests for additional data, and consider extensions of data access for approved projects.