The Network Seeks to Transform Public Education

April 29, 2014

The Wisconsin Collaborative Education Research Network brings together education researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to advance and facilitate innovation in education.
Funded by Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction, the UW–Madison School of Education, and WCER, the Network creates collaborative, interdisciplinary opportunities to share knowledge and turn research into effective practices that improve education both inside and outside of schools.

The need for the Network was identified in WCER’s recent 10-year program review, which suggested that the Center could play a larger role in matching researchers with potential field sites for projects. Later reports called for more resources to be devoted to disseminating research results to the public and translating that research into usable information and strategies.

Inspired by the challenge, Richard Halverson, a professor with the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and Jack Jorgensen, the associate dean for Education Outreach and Partnerships within the School of Education, teamed up to form the core of the Network. Officially launched at the beginning of 2014, the project now has five employees.

The Network’s launch is covered in a recent article by the School of Education.