research practice partnerships - Institute for School Partnership

What’s the most effective way to understand what learners need to thrive?

As they go about tackling big challenges in education– everything from improving STEM learning to supporting students with chronic disease, to exploring the factors that influence school mobility– WashU researchers know it’s best to bring along others who are just as invested.

By deeply engaging with teachers, districts, and community organizations that share a desire to improve a wide range of conditions and outcomes for students, they can bridge research and practice in ways that are mutually beneficial. These collaborations are known formally as research-practice partnerships (RPPs).

Leaders of the Center for Education Research, Practice and Policy Partnership (CERP³) gathered to welcome local RPPs focused on education to a December 4, 2025 event on WashU’s Danforth Campus. (From left: Yung Chun, Victoria May, Jason Jabbari, Rachel Ruggirello, Catherine Schwarz, Andrew Butler, and Saras Chung).

Ten WashU-connected RPPs were featured at the St. Louis Education Research Practice Partnership (RPP) Showcase, an event held December 4 in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge on the Danforth Campus. Co-sponsored by the Center for Education Research, Practice and Policy Partnership (CERP³) and the Institute for School Partnership (ISP), the showcase opened with guest speaker Paula Arce-Trigatti, the inaugural director of the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships (NNERPP).

“What better way to elevate the research-practice partnerships we have at the University that are focused on education than to open with support from the director of NNERPP and the ISP, a WashU team deeply engaged in RPP work?” said CERP³ Research Manager Catherine Schwarz.

Schwarz coordinates efforts of the CERP³ team, which has leaders from WashU’s Brown School, School of Medicine, Arts & Sciences, and the ISP.

“The diversity of the projects and all the artifact tables in the room was really exciting,” added Schwarz. “We had people representing early childhood, science instruction, college access, and student mental health, as well as different models for engaging with educators. These included teacher-researcher partnerships, cross-district policy partnerships, post-doctoral students placed in school districts, and individual researcher relationships with partners.”

ISP Associate Director Rachel Ruggirello, who welcomed participants to the event by sharing the ISP’s work in the RPP space, agreed.

“The ISP’s work was represented by four tables at the event, so this was naturally a great opportunity to elevate this, but it also allowed us to convene others who are meaningfully contributing to improving student outcomes and societal well-being through education research-practice partnerships in our region,” said Ruggirello. “RPPs share common features and approaches to their work, but each partnership has a unique culture and way of operating. By exploring the various ways in which these collaborations thrive, we hope that attendees left with a deeper understanding and renewed enthusiasm for RPP work.”