Corporate History

Saul Rockman founded Rockman et al, an independent research, evaluation, and consulting firm in 1990. Using his “tin parachute” from Apple Computer, and starting with an office in his basement, Saul grew a company that now conducts a wide variety of projects for public and private clients.

Building on Saul’s longtime contacts within education and technology, the company initially engaged in studies of school reform and educational policy that leveraged technology’s role in the change process. Over time, and as staff with diverse backgrounds and interests joined the group, Rockman enlarged its scope to include research and evaluation on such issues as educational leadership, assessment development, and a wide range of market research activities.

The company has helped the National Science Foundation learn that Bill Nye The Science Guy can help children learn the big ideas of science. It has conducted pioneering studies for Microsoft and Toshiba on what happens when every child in the school has a laptop computer to use at home and in school. The company is helping a service provider refine their assessments and has studied school leadership initiatives in urban schools. Rockman has prepared policy briefs, white papers, research summaries, and marketing materials for organizations such as National School Boards Association, Council of Chief State School Officers, and technology companies. The company has also worked with state departments of education in California, West Virginia, Indiana and with regional educational laboratories. Rockman has conducted market research studies for companies trying to understand a changing consumer environment, for how to enter a new market, for long term planning, and for pricing new products and services.