Senior Fellowship in Urban Education Research

Co-Principal Investigator: Jason Snipes

Purpose: The program funded by this grant is designed to put in place a unique structure for a high degree of collaboration between large urban school districts and senior researchers with established records of high quality research. Research is carried out by Senior Fellows in Urban Education selected on a competitive basis to carry out specific work described in their proposals. Under the grant, the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) works with a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) composed of senior scholars in education and practitioners with experience in leadership positions in urban districts to develop research priorities and specific criteria for awards and assist in selection of Senior Fellows awardees. The structured involvement of district leadership, CGCS, and RAC is intended to serve several objectives: (a) research relevance, (b) increased perceived relevance, (c) on-going dialogue (d) district support and flexibility, (e) greater likelihood of research use, and (f) better informed districts as consumers of research in general.

Project Activities: The CGCS is conducting three rounds of Fellowship competitions, and making three Fellowship awards in each round, for a total of nine research projects. Senior Fellow awards include a $100,000 stipend and additional financial support. Projects are intended to last 18 to 24 months. District commitment must include not only a letter of support, but also a dedicated point person with decision-making authority and a working committee of key participants-all with release time to collaborate with the Senior Research Fellow. For more details on the Senior Urban Education Research Fellowship see the CGCS website at http://www.cgcs.org/research/current_projects.aspx#research.

Products: The products from this grant will be interim and final reports and symposia for each of the nine projects.