The purpose of the Center for Human Potential and Public Policy at Harris Public Policy is to understand the forces driving inequality of opportunity for children in society and to develop interventions to close the gaps in cognitive and noncognitive skills between economically advantaged and disadvantaged children. CHPPP has a special interest in interventions that draw on the principles of behavioral science and that leverage technology so that promising interventions can be brought to scale quickly and cost effectively. Directed by Professor Ariel Kalil, a developmental psychologist who studies how economic conditions and parents’ socioeconomic status affect parenting, the home environment, and child development, the center advances the distinction of Harris among public policy schools for its interdisciplinary perspective on children and families.

While research on children’s achievement is often focused on the school setting, CHPPP focuses on child development in the context of the family. In doing so, it takes an explicit two-generation approach to promoting human development by conducting research and outreach to inform public policy initiatives that support parents' investment in their children. Since it was established in 1998, CHPPP has been committed to conducting and supporting innovative, policy-relevant research and training the next generation of scholars and policy makers.