In an era of unprecedented challenges to education data collection and research funding, Research for Action invites education leaders, policymakers, philanthropists, advocates, and school communities to a critical conversation about the essential role of research in driving the future of education.
The recent volatile changes witnessed at the federal level have threatened the quality of education across this country. The availability of data and evidence that policymakers, districts, and school leaders rely on to make informed decisions is being dismantled. Communities also need strong data and research to hold states and districts accountable for educational outcomes. These sudden shifts away from research also endanger the broader ecosystem of evidence-based practice, potentially leaving teaching and learning vulnerable to ideology-driven policies and interventions.
This webinar will convene education thought leaders to address this critical moment. We will explore the potential consequences of the decline in federal support for education research and data collection, and discuss how states and philanthropy can step up to ensure that education decision-making remains grounded in rigorous evidence. Without robust evidence-based practices, we risk perpetuating inequities, stalling innovation, and making uninformed decisions that could harm students and communities. Education research, whether evaluation of intervention, design of programs, or community-led inquiries, is not a supplementary feature, but a bedrock component of a thriving education system.
Key topics will include:
- The implications of losing federal support for education research and data collection
- The dangers of devaluing evidence-based decision-making in education
- How state governments can establish their own research initiatives to sustain data-driven policymaking.
- The critical role philanthropy can play in preserving research and advocating for its restoration
- The importance of infusing community leadership and voice in education research and envisioning a path forward
Participants will leave this webinar with a deeper understanding of the national and local stakes involved, actionable strategies for addressing threats to education research, funding gaps, and a renewed commitment to prioritizing evidence-based practices in education.
Speakers
- Kate Callahan, Executive Director, Research for Action
- Alyn Turner, Senior Research Director, Research for Action
- Leana Cabral, Senior Research Associate, Research for Action
Panel Discussion – Responses & Opportunities to Shifts in Education Research
- John Travis, Senior Program Officer, Education, Barr Foundation
- Sharif El-Mekki, Founder/CEO, Center for Black Educator Development
- Michelle Oliva, Co-Founder, EduDream
- Kate Callahan, Executive Director, Research for Action
- Jill Barshay, Staff Writer, The Hechinger Report (moderator)