As a professional learning community for research-practice partnerships (RPPs), working and learning together across partnerships is part of NNERPP’s DNA. Our subnetworks offer smaller, specialized learning communities for NNERPP members and friends who come together to discuss, learn, and build knowledge around important RPP topics or roles. The California RPP Subnetwork is the first of NNERPP’s planned regional subnetworks, a new strand of subnetworks aimed at strengthening relationships across RPPs situated in the same state or region in order to advance policy and systems reform by raising awareness of critical education research and increasing engagement with state or regional policymakers. This January, our NNERPP team was excited to co-host the first in-person convening of the California RPP Subnetwork together with California Education Partners on the Stanford University campus. Here, we share a few highlights from the gathering and describe how state- or regional-level subnetworks of RPPs might design processes through which research can be shared and leveraged synergistically to inform policy and practice beyond the scope of any individual RPP.

A SUBNETWORK FOR RPPs IN CALIFORNIA: CONTEXT AND PURPOSE

The idea for a state-wide or regional subnetwork within NNERPP first came up several years ago as an approach to leveraging the collective impact on regional/state policy of RPPs working in the same region. In particular, we noticed enduring challenges in meeting one of NNERPP’s original stated objectives, “advance policy systems reform.” Through conversations with our members and friends, we realized that the key to unlocking this aim was to focus on state boundaries as important lines of demarcation given state influence over educational policy and funding. Bringing together RPPs situated in the same state (or if not possible, the same region) to collaborate and amplify their efforts seemed like a natural next step with our subnetwork efforts; thus, the state/regional subnetwork idea was born. 

California was a promising starting point for launching the regional subnetwork approach given the large presence of NNERPP members RPPs in the state (13 and counting!). At NNERPP, we live by the mantra that what we can accomplish together is so much greater than what we can accomplish alone. In that spirit, our California-based NNERPP members have been meeting virtually since spring 2023 with the goals of 1) synthesizing, producing, and using research aimed at impacting local and state practices and policies; 2) engaging with California school districts, county, state, and research agencies to increase access to and engagement in RPP collaboration; and 3) growing the number of California district and state leaders who use research evidence to inform decisions about equity-centered changes in policy and practice. Following two online meetings in the spring and fall of 2023, the goals of the in-person gathering were to (1) build relationships across California RPP leaders, and (2) design and develop processes for synthesizing, writing, communicating, and engaging about RPP research.

TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR CALIFORNIA MEETING

Creating processes for synthesizing research across RPPs. Approximately 30 RPPers representing more than 10 California-based RPPs spent the morning iterating on a process for synthesizing research across RPPs. This important routine, i.e., the intentional weaving together of ideas and findings across the RPPs, was a priority goal for our first in-person meeting for two main reasons. First, collaboration and co-design are viewed as fundamental to any of NNERPP’s efforts to support its members in connecting and creating the foundation for community. Although we had met virtually as a group a handful of times before coming together in person, we made the decision to facilitate a co-design opportunity for our first in-person meeting as working face to face in a mini design sprint approach created multiple touch points for people in the room to engage with each other. Second, we also made the decision to introduce this activity at a later meeting given the need to first sensemake with folks around the purpose, goals, and structure of the California RPP Subnetwork. Once those initial conversations took place, it was a good time to start thinking more about the processes and routines that might define our work together.  

Our starting point was a draft of a research synthesis process based on ideas from a previous virtual meeting. In base teams of three to four, participants ideated on changes and improvements they would make to this process. After sharing their thoughts with another group, the base design groups had opportunities to use the feedback and ideas from other groups to enhance their suggested revisions to the synthesis process. As the morning unfolded, teams’ thinking evolved in several directions, including teams designing unique prototypes for the synthesis process, teams merging similar prototypes to form “mega” teams, and teams focusing their design work on identifying checkpoints (i.e., important themes and questions to address) for any research synthesis process. The afternoon session provided opportunities for teams to reflect on prototypes across teams with a gallery walk.

Planning for policy impact. In addition to exploring and further refining prototypes, participants spent the afternoon thinking about how the subnetwork might connect its synthesis work to the efforts of a longstanding research center in the California education policy and practice space, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE). PACE is led by faculty directors at five California universities (Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of California Davis, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of California Berkeley) and focuses its work on using research to bridge policy and practice. Alix Gallagher, PACE’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, provided the design teams with an overview of PACE’s work at the state level to positively influence equitable education practice by connecting research to policy. After hearing from Alix, designers revisited their prototypes and lists of checkpoints to specify their thoughts on the potential role of policy-level agencies and groups in connecting the work of the California RPPs to state-level policy decisions. 

WHAT’S NEXT: LOOKING FORWARD

The California Education Partners and NNERPP teams are currently working to create a memo that summarizes the teams’ ideas around the research synthesis process for the group’s next meeting at the end of April. Next steps for the California RPP members will be to formalize the research synthesis process and decide which topic they want to explore using the synthesis process they design. We are excited to see the work of this subnetwork continue to take shape and grow, and look forward to sharing future takeaways for how several RPPs in the same region might work together for collective impact!

Special note: If you are a California-based RPP that would like more information about this subnetwork and/or NNERPP, please let us know here! The only criteria for for joining this subnetwork is you are an RPP or an organization engaging in RPPs in California and you are a member of NNERPP.

Kim Wright is Assistant Director of the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships (NNERPP).

Suggested citation: Wright, K. (2024). When RPPs In California Work Together: Launching a Regional Subnetwork. NNERPP Extra, 6(2), 23-25.