In October 2014, The National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education, convened a Technical Working Group (TWG). The purpose of this TWG meeting was to discuss critical education problems and issues on which high-quality research is needed, the development or adaptation of new methodological approaches for addressing these issues, the role of IES research training programs in preparing of the next generation of researchers, and ways to prioritize the use of limited funds to support credible research that impacts policy and practice. The TWG consisted of 17 experts in the field of education research who work in universities and research organizations. The TWG discussion focused on five broad sessions: (1) characteristics of influential research; (2) critical, unaddressed issues in education research; (3) advancing research methods; (4) improving IES's training programs; and (5) targeting resources. This meeting summary covers all sessions of the technical working group and includes both presentations and discussions among participants.