RTI International to Acquire Education Research Firm MPR Associates, Inc.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (Dec. 12, 2012) – RTI International today announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire the education research firm MPR Associates, Inc., based in Berkeley, Calif., with offices in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore.

Founded in 1981, MPR is a privately held research and consulting firm that conducts research in K–12 through adult education and is committed to expanding education access for children and adults. MPR has about 80 staff members with a wide range of backgrounds in the social sciences, public policy, teaching and technology.

MPR’s clients include federal, state and local government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, businesses and foundations.

For more than 20 years, RTI has partnered with MPR on postsecondary education projects for the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education. The two organizations are working together on the recently announced National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education contract with the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, also in the U.S. Department of Education.

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the calendar year, at which time MPR will become part of RTI’s Education Studies Division.

“MPR has a tremendous team of talented staff members and is well respected in the education research community,” said RTI President and CEO Wayne Holden. “Most important to us, they share our dedication to excellence and passion for education research.”  

Holden said the acquisition and merger will add significantly to RTI’s education research capabilities, resulting in a larger organization that uses technology, innovation and administrative data analysis to better serve clients.

Ventura Group, LLC, advised RTI on the transaction.