His research interests include teacher effectiveness and persistence, the effects of peers on student outcomes, and program evaluation. His work is published in a variety of journals including Science, Educational Researcher, and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. His externally funded research activities include program evaluation related to urban debate league, estimating the effectiveness of teacher training programs in North Carolina, and working with Georgia’s Bright From the Start Pre-K program to estimate future demand for student services. He actively seeks research opportunities with practical implications and the potential to influence policy. Dr. Fortner teaches graduate courses in research methodology, education policy, and educational evaluation.