The SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, under the leadership of Dr. Ludwig “Ludy” van Broekhuizen, is a university based research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and technical assistance center. Its mission is to support and promote teaching and learning excellence in the Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 education community.

At the core of SERVE Center’s diverse portfolio is the operation of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL). Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, the REL-Southeast is one of ten regional organizations that conduct research and provide research-based information and services to all 50 states and territories. These Laboratories form a nationwide education research network, building a bank of research information and resources shared nationally and disseminated regionally. Currently SERVE Center is engaged in two large-scale randomized controlled trials focusing on the effectiveness of interventions seeking to improve teaching and learning in mathematics and science, and kindergarten vocabulary development.

In addition to the Lab, SERVE Center is involved in a broad spectrum of research, programs, and activities that strengthen the relevance and usefulness of its work with schools, districts, and states. Through grants, contracts, and subcontracts SERVE Center administers the National Center for Homeless Education, conducts numerous large and small evaluation projects, provides technical assistance to Smaller Learning Communities and to USED funded 21st Century Community Learning Program grantees, implements and maintains a migrant education Even Start program, provides technical assistance to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in implementing the No Child Left Behind Act through the Appalachia Comprehensive Center, and conducts an experimental research study examining high school reform through the National Center for Education Research.

For almost two decades SERVE operated the Southeast Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education, and administered the Southeast Initiatives Regional Technology in Education Consortium (SEIR*TEC).