Dear SUPR SIG members,

This fall marks the first full year of the SIG's transition from the Professional Development School SIG to the School-University Partnership Research SIG. The transition began over three years ago under the leadership of past chairs Joe Feinberg, Melissa Baker, and Diane Yendol-Hoppy. 

Our collective efforts have laid a strong foundation for building and expanding the SUPR SIG membership this year. We invite any researcher interested in developing school-university partnerships to join us as we seek to enhance educational outcomes through evidence-based research and foster collaboration between K-12 schools and higher education institutions.   

This year, we are excited to introduce new, innovative programming for the SIG quarterly. These initiatives are designed to develop and maintain research connections throughout the year, providing valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration. For instance, this summer, Jori Beck moderated a school-university panel discussion, and this fall, Morgan Faison will lead a session on the Holmes Scholars program. I invite you all to participate in these exciting and enriching programs.

As always, the SUPR SIG is committed to:

1. Knowledge integration: Combining university research with practical insights and needs of K-12 schools with a commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice.
2. Strengthening Educator Preparation and Development:  Providing a blend of research-based learning and application/experience, developing knowledgeable and adaptable educators.
3. Enhancing Pk-12 Student Learning: Resources that strengthen learning and foster growth and development are shared through school-university collaborations.
4. Sharing Resources:  Collaboratively identify and apply for funding opportunities and research projects to identify and share resources through school-university partnerships unavailable to institutions operating in isolation.

The SIG leadership continuously seeks to support and expand school-university research.  A National Collaborative Research Agenda for Professional Development Schools and Similar School-University Partnerships, with support from an AERA conference grant, was published in 2023, with over 57 school-university scholars participating in the conference over two-years.  This document was developed by many of the scholars who participated in the conference. Additionally, the same scholars contributed chapters in the recently published Advancing School-University Partnerships and Professional Development Schools through National Research:  Revitalized Perspectives for Social Justice, Equity, Growth, and Inclusivity, published by Routledge in 2024.  A third volume to be published this spring is the Handbook of School-University Partnerships by Cambridge Press.  These three collaborative publications continue to move school-university research forward!  

I invite you to engage with the SUPR SIG membership this spring at the AERA conference in Denver, CO to explore and expand the meaningful work that we all do.

I look forward to seeing you this spring.

Warmly,

Susan Ogletree

 

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