Education Funders Research Initiative (EdFunders), a project of Philanthropy New York, is supported by a group of diverse funding organizations that have pursued an array of education reform strategies. EdFunders have come together to engage New Yorkers and focus leaders on new research into how to best prepare students for college and 21st-century careers, driven by the question: How can we improve on what is working in New York City education? To that end, EdFunders commissioned a series of reports that provide unbiased, independent analysis of the various reform strategies that have been implemented across New York City public schools, highlighting strategies that have achieved success in schools or programs effective with particular populations. This document includes an overview of the Education Funders Research Initiative, six priorities for the mayor of New York City, and a summary of the research. The first two white papers, summarized in the pages of this document, were released on October 8, 2013, at an event co-sponsored by WNYC SchoolBook. The third white paper, also summarized here, was released on November 21, 2013. The six priorities that appear first in this document flow directly from the research commissioned by EdFunders, and also appear in the third paper. [For the first paper in the series, "College and Career Readiness in Context" (Leslie Santee Siskin), see ED562071. For the second paper in the series, "The Experiences of One New York City High School Cohort: Opportunities, Successes, and Challenges," (Douglas Ready, Thomas Hatch, Miya Warner, and Elizabeth Chu), see ED562061. For the third paper in the series, "Building Blocks for Better Schools: How the Next Mayor Can Prepare New York's Students for College and Careers," (Clara Hemphill, Kim Nauer, Andrew White, and Thomas Jacobs), see ED562069.]