After briefly presenting the organization of the French education system, I will describe the curriculum change currently re- shaping compulsory school under the implementation of the "common base of knowledge and skills" and various associated epistemological and sociological tensions. I will then present the legal aspects and the incentives for teaching innovations in the schools covered by the "Experimentation Article 34". In these two cases, I will show research or expertise work undertaken by INRP, in relation to these curriculum changes, sometimes to support these innovations.