MERC is governed by a Policy and Planning Council. The Council is made up of the superintendent, a school board member, and a member from each school division, as well as several VCU representatives. The Council decides what research is undertaken, appoints a study group to oversee how it is produced, and approves its dissemination. Research ideas come from many sources: classroom teachers, school administrators, and Policy and Planning Council members. The Council reviews these research ideas twice a year and selects those with the highest priority for funding. This year's MERC Policy and Planning Council includes the following:

Chesterfield County Public Schools
Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., Superintendent
Dr. Dale Kalkofen, Assistant Superintendent
Ms. Lynn Corbin-Howerton, Director of School Improvements
       and Instructional Support
Mr. Marshall W. Trammell, School Board Member

Colonial Heights City Schools
Dr. Joseph O. Cox, Jr., Superintendent
Dr. Jo Bunce, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. James M. Barker, Jr., School Board Member

Hanover County Public Schools
Dr. Stewart D. Roberson, Superintendent
Dr. Carole Urbansok O'Brien, Associate Director of Guidance,
Mr. Robert Hundley, School Board Member

Henrico County Public Schools
Mr. Frederick S. Morton IV, Superintendent
Dr. Pat Kinlaw, Asst. Superintendent Administrative Services
Dr. Penny Blumenthal, Director of Research and Planning
Mr. Hugh Palmer, School Board Member

Powhatan County Public Schools
Dr. Margaret S. Meara, Superintendent

Ms. Sandy Lynch, Director of Instruction

Richmond City Public Schools
Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, Superintendent and
       Current MERC Chair
Dr. Ann Allen, Coordinator of Research and Evaluation
Dr. Beverly Whitaker-Braxton, Executive Director of Research,
       Testing, & Staff Development

Ms. Evette Wilson, Richmond School Board

Mr. George P. Braxton, II, Richmond School Board

Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Alan McLeod, School of Education, Dean's Office
Dr. Beverly Warren, Dean, School of Education
Dr. Terry Dozier, Teacher-In-Residence
Dr. James McMillan, Professor, Educational Studies and
       Director of MERC