Join the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships

What are the services and benefits for NNERPP members?
In creating a professional learning community among research-practice partnerships across the country, NNERPP seeks to provide members with a range of services and benefits. Organized by our four objectives:
DEVELOP & SHARE BEST PARTNERSHIP PRACTICES
Participate in the annual meeting — Be part of a peer-to-peer professional learning community to develop and share best partnership practices through workshops, breakout sessions, and supported dialogues among practitioners, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders involved in RPPs.

Contribute to and access NNERPP’s on-line hub for resources — This includes the NNERPP RPP Knowledge Clearinghouse, RPP job openings, requests for proposals, and other opportunities as they arise.

Have fellow RPP leaders on speed dial — In addition, participate in surveys and interviews across NNERPP to support cross-fertilization of knowledge among partnerships.

SYNTHESIS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS & KNOWLEDGE BUILDING
Gain access to information on current research conducted by RPPs in the network — Through members-only virtual brown bags and a research repository (in progress) featuring the work of NNERPP members, as well as a bi-weekly newsletter that highlights the work and findings of NNERPP members.

Be alerted about opportunities to connect with other RPPs on research — Through social media promotion and coordinated panel sessions at several conferences throughout the year.

FACILITATE CROSS-PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATIONS
Engage in cross-partnership collaborations — And have NNERPP address possible roadblocks such as handling cross-partnership IRB issues, MOUs, or data access.

Receive support developing comparative research projects with other NNERPP members — These include peer-reviewed journal articles or practitioner-friendly briefs, and the facilitation of joint grant proposals, organization of conference panels and joint presentations, and internal sharing of research.

POLICIES & SYSTEM REFORMS
Participate in activities promoting the importance of RPPs — Including to national stakeholders in policy and philanthropic communities.

Help build strategic relationships in a variety of sectors to build support for RPPs.

Provide information on significant research findings from RPPs — Which may be of interest to policymakers and/or research being used by practitioners due to RPP work.

Who is eligible to join NNERPP?
NNERPP is a network of research-practice partnerships; in particular, members consist of RPPs that have an education focus. As did the Spencer Foundation, we have also chosen to adopt and adapt the definition of RPPs first put forth by Coburn, Penuel, and Geil in a 2013 white paper prepared for the William T. Grant Foundation.

 

To be eligible to join NNERPP, partnerships must meet the following criteria:

PARTNERSHIPS MUST HAVE THE INTENTION OF BEING LONG-TERM

 

Research-practice partnerships are different from research-practice projects in that partnerships are collaborative formations that make an explicit effort to work beyond a single project. Research-practice projects, on the other hand, typically consist of researchers and practitioners coming together for a predetermined amount of time and separate once the work is completed. Note that partnerships can often form around a particular project, but change the scope or type of work once they’ve decided to become an RPP.

PARTNERSHIPS MUST HAVE MUTUALISTIC COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS

“Researchers” represent agencies that primarily research education and “practitioners” represent agencies that primarily administer education, or form part of a relevant community stakeholder group affecting education.

Mutualistic collaborations require both sides of the partnership to have a commitment of co-developing the research agenda, research questions, and overall research process. There is intentional recognition of important expertise that is held by participants from both sides of the partnership; furthermore, this complementary expertise is valued and thoughtfully incorporated into the work.

PARTNERSHIPS MUST INVESTIGATE EDUCATION PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE AND SOLUTIONS FOR IMPROVING OUTCOMES

A natural extension of “mutualistic collaborations” is that the research questions addressed by RPPs are very relevant to practice. That is, only questions that have been co-developed with direct input by “practitioners” are taken on. Additionally, partnerships make a special effort to also address dissemination and implementation of research findings, a crucial step that goes beyond a research-pratice project or traditional research done solo.
What is the membership fee?

The annual fee is waived for the first year of membership

After the first year, the annual membership fee for each research-practice partnership is $1,000. Included in this fee are two free registrations to the NNERPP Annual Forum, our annual gathering of members and friends.

How do I join NNERPP?
The steps below outline the process for NNERPP membership:
STEP 1
As a first step, please fill out this Membership Application Form to help us learn more about your RPP.
STEP 2
Next, we will reach out to you for a quick call to get to know you better and address any remaining questions.
STEP 3
If your RPP meets all membership criteria, your application will then be discussed with the NNERPP Steering Committee, which will make a final call on membership.
How can we stay connected?
Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter to stay up to date on all things NNERPP.