Education research & data services
Educational data, made useful.
We help schools, community colleges, and grant-funded programs make better decisions with better data: program evaluation, grant writing, data management, and technical assistance.
What we do
Four services, one coherent practice
Each service stands on its own, and most clients use them together. Every engagement is led by Dr. Janet Johnson and staffed by senior consultants, not handed off to juniors.
Program Evaluation
Rigorous, methodologically sound evaluations for grant-funded educational programs.
Learn more →Grant Writing
Three decades of successful funding from federal, state, and foundation sources.
Learn more →Technical Assistance
Hands-on support for the complex technical and data problems your team runs into.
Learn more →Why work with us
What makes Edstar different
Evidence you can use, not just report
Our evaluations are designed to satisfy funders and help program staff make better decisions, not one or the other.
Tools built for how your program actually runs
Digital intake forms, observation tools, dashboards: real working systems, not PowerPoint mockups.
Rigor with access
Mixed-methods research grounded in statistics and classroom reality. Our work reads clearly to program managers, funders, and boards alike.
A partner across the lifecycle
From grant proposal through evaluation, reporting, and the next proposal: fewer handoffs, more continuity.
Your data never touches a third-party form vendor
The surveys, intake forms, and dashboards we build run on Edstar's own software, on infrastructure we operate, not on Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, or WordPress plugins. One accountable partner, no data sharing with outside platforms.
Built & deployed
Interactive tools you can try
The systems we build for clients are real working software. Here are three you can explore right now.
Childcare Enrollment
A digital enrollment form where submissions flow directly into a structured database, replacing hours of paper data entry. Try a sample submission.
Open the demo → Classroom observationSTEM Classroom Observation
A research-based small-group observation instrument for STEM classrooms. Document student collaboration and engagement, with structured output for evaluation.
Open the demo → Planning toolSuggested Data Planner
Pick a program type, participant population, and funder, and it suggests the data categories to prioritize, why they matter, and instruments used in the field.
Open the demo →What partners say
Trusted across education
"I've collaborated with Edstar Analytics for nearly a decade, first through NC GEAR UP, now with MS GEAR UP, and on multiple research projects. Their statistical expertise is unmatched, and they bring clarity and rigor to every evaluation. We've published together in peer-reviewed journals and even co-authored a book chapter on data use in education. They're sharp, reliable, and truly collaborative, an asset to any project."
Dr. Carol Cutler White, MPA, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Community College Leadership · Executive Director, Community College Advocacy Lab
Get in touch
Let's talk about your program.
Tell us what you're working on. We'll respond within one or two business days.