Research and Development in America’s Schools - How School Systems Drive Sustainable Improvement and Innovation

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

Research and Development in America’s Schools examines how school systems use research and development (R&D) to achieve sustainable improvement and innovation in teaching and learning. The report defines an education R&D agenda intended to guide policy, funding, and local practice. It highlights conditions and practice dimensions for R&D adoption, introduces tools for leaders, and presents use cases across rural, suburban, and charter contexts. It also includes acknowledgments and suggested citation information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

A Framework for How School Systems Incorporate R&D

School Systems R&D: Enabling Conditions

School Systems R&D: Practice Dimensions

School Systems R&D Practice Dimensions Rubric

School Systems R&D in Action: A Series of Use Cases

R&D Strategies for School Systems

Tools for School Systems Leaders

TOOL: Creating an R&D Challenge Statement

TOOL: Systems R&D Conditions Planning

TOOL: Assessing School System R&D Practices

APPENDIX: School System R&D Use Cases Across Contexts

Research and Development in America’s Schools: How School Systems Drive Sustainable Improvement and Innovation Kimberly A. Smith and Dr. Joshua Stewart January 2026 Acknowledgments Thank you to the Alliance for Learning Innovation for the opportunity to showcase and define how school systems are creating the conditions for research and development (R&D) to advance teaching and learning in their communities. This landscape scan is accompanied by an education R&D agenda, designed by our national advisory of school systems leaders, to inform policy, funding and practices that deepen and scale the impact of local-led R&D. We thank the school district and charter network leaders from across the country for serving on the District Education R&D Advisory Committee and contributing their expertise and perspectives in shaping the landscape scan and national agenda. District Education R&D Advisory Committee | David Aderhold
Superintendent,
West Windsor—Plainsboro
Regional School District (NY) | | | --- | --- | | Mario Andrade
Superintendent,
Nashua School District (NH) | | | Mary Beck
President,
Distinctive Schools (IL) | | | Cady Ching
Chief Executive Officer,
Summit Public Schools (CA) | | | Bob Hill
Superintendent,
Springfield City
School District (OH) | | | Suzanne Lacey
Superintendent,
Talladega County Schools (AL) | | | Michelle Miller
Superintendent,
South Fayette Township
School District (PA) | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Miranda Ming
Executive Director,
Momentum Academy (MO) | | | | Audra Pittman
Superintendent,
Calistoga Joint Unified
School District (CA) | | | | Mary Catherine Reljac
Superintendent,
Fox Chapel Area
School District (PA) | | | | Theodore Thompson
Executive Director, Secondary
Schools, Denver Public
Schools (CO) | | | | Alena Zachery-Ross
Superintendent,
Ypsilanti Community Schools (MI) | | | Digital Promise | Alliance for Learning Innovation Research and Development in America’s Schools: How School Systems Drive Sustainable Improvement and Innovation 1 About the Alliance for Learning Innovation The Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) believes that more effective, rapid, and strategic education R&D is essential to helping communities successfully address the most pressing obstacles to student learning today. ALI unites a diverse coalition of nonprofits, researchers, practitioners, funders, and private sector innovators who share a commitment to improving and expanding the impact of education R&D. Connect with ALI by visiting [alicoalition.org](alicoalition.org) or following us on LinkedIn. About Digital Promise Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility. For more information, visit [digitalpromise.org](digitalpromise.org)[and follow us on](and follow us on LinkedIn.)[ ](and follow us on LinkedIn.)[LinkedIn](and follow us on LinkedIn.)[.](and follow us on LinkedIn.) Digital Promise launched the Collaborative Innovation Studio to support school systems in building the capacity to engage in R&D. We support school systems in hosting Action Summits, workshops, professional learning experiences and more. To learn more about how your school system can build capacity for R&D, visit the Collaborative Innovation Studio website. Digital Promise | Alliance for Learning Innovation Research and Development in America’s Schools: How School Systems Drive Sustainable Improvement and Innovation 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 4 A Framework for How School Systems Incorporate R&D 7 S

FAQs

What is the purpose of the education R&D agenda in the report?

It is designed to inform policy, funding, and practices that deepen and scale the impact of locally led education R&D.

Why does the report emphasize R&D as more than a “nice-to-have”?

It frames R&D as essential for agile, innovative, and responsive improvement that helps promising practices take root and endure.

What types of school-system contexts are included in the use cases?

The report presents use cases across early-stage rural districts, established suburban districts, and embedded charter school networks.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle