Fostering School Improvement: Data-Informed Decision-Making in Research-Practice Partnerships

• In Event: Reimagining School Effectiveness Research: Integrating Context, Culture, and Capacity for Sustainable Change

Abstract

Amid global pressure for school improvement, schools are increasingly designing their own innovations, yet they often lack frameworks for systematic evaluation and development. This study explored how Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) can advance school-led innovation. Using a multiple case study methodology, we analyzed two schools engaged in a research-focused RPP where practitioners and academic researchers collaboratively examined school-based initiatives. The findings demonstrate that the partnership facilitated the expansion and refinement of the innovations, promoted data-informed decision-making, fostered teacher professional development, and enhanced the schools' professional reputations. This study underscores RPPs as a powerful model for empowering schools to gain insight into their practices, foster improvement, and instigate meaningful change.

Authors

• Linor Lea Hadar, University of Haifa

• Haneen Vasel, Beit Berl College