This five part document outlines the growth of educational research and development (R&D) during the past decade, provides an introduction to the Stanford Center and its work, and comments on both the accomplishments and the problems of educational R&D. Part one defines the function of the Stanford Center and the rationale for its mission in teacher education. Part two describes the national network of R&D institutions which consists of R&D Centers and Regional Educational Laboratories. Part three discusses a) the reasons for the sudden growth of R&D institutions, b) how they reflect social pressures and problems, and c) difficulties which stem from inadequacies in the educational system itself. Part four delineates eight essential elements of a comprehensive R&D program. Part five presents several examples of educational R&D work at the Stanford Center including the following programs: (a) Teaching Effectiveness; (b) Environment for Teaching; (c) Teaching and Linguistic Pluralism; and (d) the Urban/Rural Leadership Training Institute. Part six discusses the results of a decade of educational R&D. (Author/JS)