Paul DiPerna

Paul DiPerna is Research Director for the Friedman Foundation, based in Indianapolis, IN. He joined the foundation in September 2006. Paul’s research interests include surveys and polling on K-12 and school choice issues. He has developed and issued more than 15 state polls to date. Paul’s other responsibilities include managing and editing all research projects commissioned by the foundation.

Before moving to Indianapolis, Paul served as the assistant director for the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. His six years at Brookings included projects evaluating the federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program and analyzing student achievement in charter schools. Paul was a research analyst for the first five issues of the Brown Center Report on American Education (2000-2004). He also managed and coordinated the activities of the National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education (2001-2005).

Paul has given many public and private presentations on state polling and K-12 education issues to audiences spanning public officials, policy professionals, the media, academics, and advocates. He has published articles in Education Next, First Monday, and the Washington Examiner. In Fall 2008, he authored a chapter in the Handbook of Research on Web Log Analysis.

A native of Pittsburgh, Paul earned an M.A. in political science from the University of Illinois (2000) and B.A. from the University of Dayton (1996).

Paul currently lives in Zionsville with his wife and daughter. He is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.