MADISON EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
About the Partnership
The Madison Education Partnership (MEP) was established in 2016 as a research-practice partnership (RPP) by leaders of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) and the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD).
MEP brings together UW researchers and MMSD staff to define and address critical issues relating to student achievement and equity in the Madison school community.
A clear Research Cycle is coordinated through MEP. Critical questions within MMSD are brought to the MEP discussion table. UW and MMSD representatives collaborate to set priorities, design a research strategy, identify data to collect, and set up analyses that will lead to deeper understanding of the issues and implications, as well as potential responses by district leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Faster turnaround of research and analysis is one of the many advantages of MEP. Results are shared with decision-makers immediately following analysis (rather than later, after journal publication), so that district leaders can use findings to make strategic policy and practice decisions. Though quickly accomplished and locally-based, MEP’s research is up to peer-review standards and has national relevance.
Advantages of RPPs
- Mutually defined questions and priorities
- More efficient data sharing
- Highly qualified researchers leverage university resources
- Faster turnaround of results for decision-makers
- Increased likelihood of research use
Across the nation, RPPs are working on local problems with national consequences. See the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships.
MEP’s Structure
MEP Directors oversee all MEP operations and direct research projects. Along with staff based at WCER, they engage with local stakeholders, MMSD leaders, school practitioners, and supported researchers—to advance studies and results sharing, and to support practice and policy changes related to student achievement and equity.
Supported Researchers are awarded grants to carry out research projects that complement the research conducted by the MEP Directors.
Affiliates are UW-Madison faculty and staff who are engaged in supported research projects within MMSD.
Interns are graduate students who work with MEP to identify and execute collaborative research projects in MMSD. These intern researchers, many of whom hail from UW-Madison’s Interdisciplinary Training Program (ITP) in Education Sciences, represent diverse disciplines within the social sciences and education and partner with MMSD staff member(s) to apply their knowledge and skills in practical settings. Interns design and conduct research and/or translational projects to provide the district with deeper contextual information topically aligned with current MEP research areas and of interest to district leadership.
An Advisory Council made up of UW faculty and MMSD staff meets quarterly to (1) advise MEP directors and staff on key decisions for the partnership’s growth and development, use and distribution of research products, and ways to sustain the partnership; (2) provide thoughtful reviews of new lines of work, grant proposals, and research products prior to release; and (3) share information about MEP’s mission and work with others in their networks.
MEP Research Cycle
WCER and MMSD leaders and researchers mutually define and investigate problems relating to student learning, equity, and district-wide concerns, then collaboratively identify responsive policies and solutions based on results.
This diagram is a simplified picture of MEP’s iterative research process. A more complete diagram is forthcoming on our Research page.
Research Briefs are one way MEP shares its work. See publications.
