Abstract: As an important component of new think-tank with Chinese characteristics, education think-tank plays an important role in the national education decision-making and promoting education reform and development. The new education think-tank is not only a think-tank for educational decision-making and educational reform, but also a commentator for educational policy and a guide for educational practice. Furthermore, it serves as an evaluator of educational development, a high-end talent pool, a contact for educational exchange, and a source of positive public opinion. Also, plays the role of counseling advice, theoretical innovation, leading practice, personnel training, data storage, media guidance and so on. Therefore, it's essential to clarify the construction path and operating mechanism of the new education think-tank.

Key words: education think-tank, role, essential characteristic, main function, construction path