FullScale, a leading nonprofit committed to advancing K-12 systems change, has been awarded a $570,000 grant from the William T. Grant Foundation aimed at exploring whether cross-state research-practice partnerships (RPPs) can facilitate state educational technology leaders’ use of research evidence to drive more equitable implementation of educational technology (edtech).

Despite ongoing efforts to close the digital divide and address challenges and opportunities introduced by artificial intelligence, many states lack clear, research-informed guidance on how best to implement and scale equitable edtech solutions. The 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) emphasized the urgency of using evidence to assess local needs, develop implementation strategies, and evaluate impact — yet little is known about how research is actually used at the state level.

“Our goal is to understand how research-practice partnerships can help state leaders not only access but act on research in ways that advance technology integration,” said Dr. Beth Holland, Managing Director of Research and Policy at FullScale, and Principal Investigator of the study. “This project will strengthen the bridge between research and policy, helping states make informed decisions when developing policy, guidance, and resources.”

“The William T. Grant Foundation is pleased to fund FullScale in this work,” said Senior Vice President of Programs Kim DuMont. “A key focus of the foundation is studying strategies to improve the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people. This study will do just that, contributing to our knowledge of ways to facilitate evidence use among state policymakers.”

The study will include a multi-state RPP involving 30 members of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). Using a mixed-method, convergent parallel study design, the team will explore how participation in the RPP influences state leaders’ use of research evidence, shifts their professional networks, and enhances their capacity to broker research across policy and practice contexts.

“We’re equipping state leaders with the capacity to turn research into action—so technology initiatives are about equity and impact, not just novelty,” said Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA. “This partnership with FullScale is about ensuring states have the modern systems they need to connect evidence with practice and make technology initiatives that truly benefit students.”

The findings will contribute critical insights to the growing body of literature on evidence use in education policymaking. They will also offer practical models for how state-level decision-makers can collaborate with researchers to develop, implement, and evaluate edtech policies that are equitable and responsive to local needs.

This work is supported as part of the William T. Grant Foundation’s focus on improving the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people, especially those from underserved communities.

Media Contact:
Chiara Wegener, Managing Director, Communications, FullScale
chiara.wegener@fullscalelearning.org