School of Education and Social Policy became a separate School of Education in 1926 after starting as a department in the College of Liberal Arts. In 1986 "Social Policy" was added to the School's name to reflect its mission of improving education and lives through studying and influencing policy. SESP is the smallest school at Northwestern University with 300 undergraduates, 300 graduate students and 23 faculty.

Faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy conduct research that investigates how people learn and develop over the course of the life span. Research themes focus on individual development, families and communities, pedagogical and technological innovations, teacher development and school improvement. The results of such research become powerful tools to shape education and social programs that make a difference in schools and communities and change the lives of children and families.

http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/projects/ls.html/