Educational Policy Makers and Researchers Schooling Each Other: Building Research Partnerships Between Researchers and School Districts

Session Type: Invited Session

Abstract

There is a growing interest in developing close collaborations between educational practitioners and researchers. However, despite notable exceptions (e.g., Consortium on Chicago Schools Research), such partnerships are still relatively rare. This is not surprising as the goals and incentives of policymakers and researchers frequently diverge. Recently policymakers in the District of Columbia Public Schools and researchers at the University of Virginia and Stanford University have begun a partnership to develop research evidence to inform DCPS human capital policies. That collaboration has resulted in a mutually agreed upon research agenda and the first of what promises to be several research papers intended to inform DCPS policy. While this partnership remains a work-in-progress, it provides an example of how researchers and policymakers found ways to align their interests to work together.

Sub Unit

• Division L - Educational Policies and Politics / Division L - Educational Policy and Politics

Participants

• Scott Thompson, District of Columbia Public Schools

• Thomas Dee, Stanford University

• James H. Wyckoff, University of Virginia

Discussant

• John Q. Easton, Spencer Foundation