Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change

State education agencies have increasing influence over educational policy and practice, with responsibilities ranging from vision setting to monitoring compliance with accountability policy. Although state education agency leaders are well positioned to advance change, capacity building at this lev...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hannah Goldstein, Hayley Weddle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-02-01
Series:AERA Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584251315089
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823865271730831360
author Hannah Goldstein
Hayley Weddle
author_facet Hannah Goldstein
Hayley Weddle
author_sort Hannah Goldstein
collection DOAJ
description State education agencies have increasing influence over educational policy and practice, with responsibilities ranging from vision setting to monitoring compliance with accountability policy. Although state education agency leaders are well positioned to advance change, capacity building at this level of the education system has been traditionally limited. Research–practice partnerships (RPPs) represent a promising venue to support the ability of state leaders to facilitate educational change. In this qualitative study, we drew on semistructured interviews with state education agency leaders and observations of RPP meetings to examine the state-level structures that pose challenges to leaders’ efforts to make change and how participating in an RPP can support leaders in addressing these challenges. Findings reveal how RPP engagement supported state leaders with navigating complex organizational silos and bureaucratic processes by promoting relationship building and supporting the use of evidence-based resources. These insights may inform future research and capacity-building efforts at the state level of the education system.
format Article
id doaj-art-9b18003e1d6b45999a1ee7c1c00eb2ac
institution Kabale University
issn 2332-8584
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series AERA Open
spelling doaj-art-9b18003e1d6b45999a1ee7c1c00eb2ac2025-02-08T08:03:20ZengSAGE PublishingAERA Open2332-85842025-02-011110.1177/23328584251315089Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of ChangeHannah GoldsteinHayley WeddleState education agencies have increasing influence over educational policy and practice, with responsibilities ranging from vision setting to monitoring compliance with accountability policy. Although state education agency leaders are well positioned to advance change, capacity building at this level of the education system has been traditionally limited. Research–practice partnerships (RPPs) represent a promising venue to support the ability of state leaders to facilitate educational change. In this qualitative study, we drew on semistructured interviews with state education agency leaders and observations of RPP meetings to examine the state-level structures that pose challenges to leaders’ efforts to make change and how participating in an RPP can support leaders in addressing these challenges. Findings reveal how RPP engagement supported state leaders with navigating complex organizational silos and bureaucratic processes by promoting relationship building and supporting the use of evidence-based resources. These insights may inform future research and capacity-building efforts at the state level of the education system.https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584251315089
spellingShingle Hannah Goldstein
Hayley Weddle
Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
AERA Open
title Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
title_full Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
title_fullStr Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
title_short Exploring the Potential of Research–Practice Partnerships to Support State Education Leaders as Agents of Change
title_sort exploring the potential of research practice partnerships to support state education leaders as agents of change
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584251315089
work_keys_str_mv AT hannahgoldstein exploringthepotentialofresearchpracticepartnershipstosupportstateeducationleadersasagentsofchange
AT hayleyweddle exploringthepotentialofresearchpracticepartnershipstosupportstateeducationleadersasagentsofchange