The development of new knowledge through research and evaluation is essential to the effectiveness of 21st-century schools of education. SMU's Center On Research and Evaluation (CORE) is dedicated to this cause. CORE includes both a research center designed to support Simmons faculty members in their efforts to procure funding, implement grants, and disseminate findings related to their research and an evaluation center that designs and conducts systematic evaluations of projects and activities regionally and nationally.