A state-funded model for education research and technical assistance

The recent wave of federal layoffs in education research has created a significant void in our education system. However, rather than dwelling on these losses, it's time to envision and build a more effective model for education research and technical assistance.

It's time to create a national, opt-in, state-funded research and technical assistance center. This collaborative effort would leverage the extensive expertise of displaced researchers and technical assistance professionals while addressing current gaps in education research implementation. A new center that would master research–practice partnership would include:

Practical research translation

Moving beyond simple What Works Clearinghouse–like research repositories, dedicated technical assistance professionals would help states and districts identify and implement research relevant to their specific contexts. These experts would provide real-time guidance on selecting and adapting evidence-based practices, ensuring they match local needs, resources, and student populations. They would maintain ongoing relationships with districts, understanding their unique challenges and opportunities, rather than simply providing a static list of interventions.

This hands-on approach would represent a significant improvement over previous de-facto use of What Works Clearinghouse and other depositories where practitioners often selected strategies from pre-approved lists without sufficient consideration of local context. The TA team would be equipped to rapidly share emerging research findings and promising practices, even before formal review processes are complete. A new CALDER working paper shows evidence about emergency teacher licensing in addressing staffing shortages? TA providers could immediately share these insights with states considering similar policies, rather than waiting months or years for formal review.

Beyond sharing research, they would help districts build internal capacity for evaluating and implementing research-based practices — creating a more sustainable approach to evidence-based decision making, and facilitating connections between researchers and practitioners so that findings become actionable strategies that work in real-world settings.

Best practices exchange

With the dissolution of Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) and comprehensive centers, we need new mechanisms for sharing successful practices. This center would serve as a dynamic hub for knowledge exchange — regular virtual convenings, collaborative working groups, and a robust digital platform giving states unprecedented access to peer learning.

The center would facilitate cross-state collaboration through structured communities of practice focused on specific topics like teacher retention, curriculum development, or assessment systems. And here's where it needs to improve on previous practice: it would also bring in international perspectives and successful models from around the globe. While the U.S. education system has many strengths, we can learn valuable lessons from high-performing systems in countries like Finland, Singapore, and Canada. The center would analyze these international success stories, identify adaptable practices, and help states customize them for local contexts.

Cost-effectiveness support

In today's tightening budget environment, integrating cost-effectiveness considerations into education policy decisions is more crucial than ever. Despite significant advances by economists in developing practical tools and methodologies, few education leaders systematically incorporate cost-effectiveness analysis into their decision-making processes.

Rather than waiting for perfect conditions for comprehensive economic studies, the center would help education leaders implement cost-effectiveness thinking in everyday decisions — from quick-turnaround analyses of program alternatives to supporting full-scale studies for larger initiatives. It would also maintain a database of cost-effectiveness findings from across states, helping leaders learn from others' experiences and make more informed resource allocation decisions.

Equity-centered approach

In the current climate, many are shying away from equity initiatives due to shifting federal priorities. Can a state-funded center keep the work of closing opportunity and achievement gaps — whatever we choose to call them — moving forward? The fundamental challenge persists: students face vastly different opportunity trajectories based on factors like income, race, and zip code — factors entirely unrelated to their talent or motivation.

Rather than getting caught in ideological debates, we need data-driven, research-based solutions. Through rigorous data analysis, the center would help states identify achievement gaps, understand root causes specific to their contexts, and implement targeted interventions backed by research. Key areas would include:

• Growing school segregation
• Resource allocation and funding formulas
• Access to teachers and uneven staffing challenges
• Discipline practices and their disproportionate impacts
• Early childhood education opportunities

Expert repository

By housing top researchers and practitioners, the center would serve as a one-stop resource for states and districts seeking expert guidance and support. There is tremendous talent available right now — I've spoken with many recently laid-off education experts who are eager to continue making education better for all students. Their expertise and dedication shouldn't go to waste.

Implementation path

The subscription model could start with early-adopter states known for embracing education innovation, gradually expanding as others recognize the value of participation. The center's success would depend on collaboration among major research institutions like AIR, WestEd, Westat, and RTI — organizations that have already developed comprehensive plans for this work through their federal proposals. They can enhance these plans even further, with each institution contributing its unique strengths.

If we believe in education research — and decades of evidence show its power to improve outcomes — then participating states will see measurable improvements in their education systems. As these early adopters demonstrate success, more states will be motivated to join, creating a virtuous cycle of evidence-based improvement across our nation's schools.

This transformation represents an opportunity to improve upon previous models, creating a more responsive, efficient, and effective system for education research and technical assistance. Rather than waiting for federal contracts that won't return, this new model offers a path to bring valuable expertise back into the field. The framework is clear, the talent is ready, and states need this support now more than ever.