LOS ANGELES EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

April 30, 2014

LAERI Mission

To inform policy, transform practice, and improve student outcomes in Los Angeles through high quality and actionable research

Organizational Purpose

From the emerging tradition of place-based R&D orgs Focus on applied, rigorous research that is solution oriented Build collaborative relationships between researchers and

practitioners Sustain efforts/focus over time, to build cumulative research

base Independent, non-profit focused on LA County (starting with

LAUSD), marshaling resources of local and national cadre of Research Affiliates

Improvement Emphasis Identifying points of intervention Examining innovations/promising practices for prospect of scaling Evaluating implementation and/or effects of policies/programs Developing learning community around high quality education

research

Organizational Model

LAERIExec Dir, Research

Advisor, Staff

Board Of

Directors Stakeho

lder Advisory Board

Research

Affiliates

Practitioner

Affiliates

National

Research

Advisory Board

LAERI Guiding Principles

Trust Commitment to being trusted partners No Surprises policy

Usefulness Focused on real problems of practice Engaging stakeholders in ongoing dialogue to identify and refine

research questions; make results more tangible, practical, and actionable

Independence Neutral, objective party – Decisions driven by objective analysis

rather than ideology Critical friend to education policymakers

Quality Multi-disciplinary, multi-method research of the highest technical

quality National network of scholars – advise projects, review research

products

Overall Research Agenda

LAERI research studies will fall under the following broad topics: Pathways to Proficiency High School Graduation, College

Enrollment and Completion Closing the Achievement Gap Interventions and School Improvement

Efforts

Initial Proposed Studies in LAUSD

Identify possible points of intervention, and particular schools and classrooms that are succeeding, in the following areas: Algebra Success A-G Graduation Requirements (Universal

College Eligibility) Early Intervention (preK-3)

LAERI Convenings around LAUSD Research

LAERI Internal District Discussions/Series 8th Grade Algebra Placement and Math Achievement

with district math coordinators, A-G Task Force Research Methods Workshop: Mike Seltzer on

research design considerations when evaluating programs, for district data coordinators and research staff

LAERI Public Research Symposia Series Co-hosting Harvard/SDP release of Human Capital

analyses Co-hosting Harvard/SDP release of Graduation

analyses

LAERI Challenge/Question

Needs of the District/Partnership Extend beyond Typical Project-based ResearchSome needs we have met: Needs assessment/scanning of district research priorities Some ad hoc descriptive and predictive analytics (e.g., algebra

placement policies) Data analytics & reporting consultations (A-G Perf Mgmt Working

Group) Monthly Research Priority Committee meetings (incl. proposal reviews) Research Methods Workshops (understanding evaluation designs)

Others we have not (but wish we could): Documentation of existing needs/practices/interventions across

schools Specific urgent program/policy research or evaluation Many other ad hoc descriptive/predictive analytics Consultations on RFP Development Literature reviews

Limitations to Research Use Manifest Frequently

Constraints users encounter (e.g., lack of time or organizational support for use, lack of capacity, skepticism) Infuse our work w/relationship-building and practitioner-

capacity building; develop mechanisms for org’l dialogue about research

Conflicting time horizons between policy decisions and rigorous research standards Develop quick turnaround research capacity to address

more immediate decision making needs but also encourage patience and build common goal for considering eval earlier in process

Those most likely to use research to inform practice are not at the table, didn’t receive report Disseminate different products for different audiences;

Convene a matrix of groups at various levels (executive leadership team, horizontal and vertical teams, school site teams)

Our Question(s) for the Group What strategies do partnerships use to address

some of these needs and/or constraints to engaging stakeholders around research? Practitioner capacity building Infusing strategic orientation toward evaluation

(inserting it into planning/prior to implementation) Quick turnaround research capacity Extensive dissemination and intensive convenings

And how are such strategies funded?