WHY A TEXAS EDUCATION RESEARCHPRACTICE-POLICY-PARTNERSHIP?

The idea to develop a statewide education-focused researchpractice-policy partnership (RP3) emerged during the pandemic, as researchers and constituents sought to address gaps in research and support educational change.

The pandemic disrupted education in many ways, disproportionately affecting vulnerable students. The pandemic widened existing gaps in academic achievement and long-term life outcomes, and this threatens the well-being of our Black, Latinx, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and Emergent Bilingual students, as well as students with disabilities.

In response, UT College of Education Dean Charles Martinez and Texas 2036 CEO Margaret Spellings convened a half-day summit in March 2021. The summit brought together researchers and education stakeholders from across Texas to discuss resources and approaches to ensure Texas students could recover and thrive in a post-COVID world, and develop recommendations for educational policy and practice.

They concurred that developing a statewide partnership focused on the nexus of research, practice and policy would be a crucial step to identify and address gaps in research and promote equitable transformation.