Non-Financial Support
I am not in an RPP. Where should I start?
The William T. Grant Foundation has put together a microsite with many resources pertaining to several important aspects of research-practice partnerships.
We recommend reading up on the following:
- How to structure a partnership
- How to develop a joint research agenda
- How to develop data sharing agreements
- How to communicate and use research findings
- Staffing considerations
- How to evaluate an RPP
I am in an RPP and would like to learn more.
The Research + Practice Collaboratory, an NSF-funded organization that brings together educators and researchers to develop more equitable innovations for STEM teaching and learning, has a variety of materials to support RPP work. They additionally hosted a monthly webinar series from October 2015 through March 2016. Forum topics included:
- GETTING A PARTNERSHIP STARTED
- DEFINING THE FOCUS OF PARTNERSHIP WORK
- NEGOTIATING ROLES IN PARTNERSHIPS
- ADDRESSING CHALLENGES IN PARTNERSHIPS
- MEASURING IMPACTS OF PARTNERSHIPS
- SUSTAINING PARTNERSHIPS
What are DBIR RPPs or Networked Improvement Communities?
For resources pertaining to DBIR type partnerships, please click here.
For resources pertaining to the Carnegie Foundation’s Networked Improvement Communities, please click here.
Where can I find research on the intersection between research, policy, and practice?
The National Center for Research in Policy and Practice studies how educational leaders—including school district supervisors and principals—use research when making decisions and what can be done to make research findings more useful and relevant for those leaders. Please see their website for a collection of important knowledge that is directly relevant to research-practice partnerships.
Funding
Spencer Foundation
The Research-Practice Partnership Program at the Spencer Foundation seeks to strengthen existing RPPs by funding projects with budgets up to $400,000. Proposals are accepted once per year; the current round for 2016 has now closed. Please check back for the next round of deadlines.
Institute of Education Sciences
The Research-Practice Partnership Program at IES supports partnerships composed of research institutions and state or local education agencies that have identified an education issue or problem of high priority for the education agency that has important implications for improving student education outcomes. The current letter of intent is due May 19, 2016. The application is due at 4:30 pm ET, August 4, 2016.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently announced a competitive grant program for their “Computer Science for All” initiative that specifically asks for groups that are arranged in any research-practice partnership type. NSF estimates that 19 awards will be given (5 small, 10 medium, 4 large). The deadline to submit is February 28, 2017 by 5:00 pm (submitter’s local time).
William T. Grant Foundation
The William T. Grant Foundation has a collection of resources to help those interested in launching or sustaining a research-practice partnership.