The Unexpected Benefits of a Research-Practice Partnership’s Efforts to Strengthen Budgetary Decision-Making

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of outcomes of RPP.

Results of RPP	Notes
Advancements in cycle-based budgeting approach: Refinement of AROI calculation, introduction of summary cards and end-of-cycle review meetings	AROI calculations were planned regardless of RPP, but RPP provided additional capacity to refine AROI calculation, present findings to program leaders, and establish more-routine conversations and program review sessions between program personnel and research/evaluation staff that contributed to more-systematic evidence use.
Value-added analysis (VAA) of reading and math interventions	VAA was conducted to cross-validate AROI metrics as a preplanned RPP activity, but the calculation of VAA uncovered important gaps in data availability, including target populations and investment goals/outcomes. These discoveries led to refinement of budget request and investment tracking systems.
CEAs of Reading Recovery (RR), Restorative Practices (RP), and school nurse program	CEAs would not have been possible without the capacity afforded by personnel dedicated to the RPP. They did not result in program discontinuation but did lead to changes in program implementation. Additionally, they created deeper relationships between program and research and evaluation teams.
Changes to budget requests and Investment Tracking System	Budget requests already required evidence aligned with ESSA tiers but analysis of evidence supporting budget requests, interviews with decision-makers, calculating AROI and conducting VAA and CEAs, and EOC meetings all indicated need for greater clarity and direction in appropriate supporting evidence, need for clearer theories of change, and need for clearer alignment between program goals, resources, and implementation. Mandated provision of a logic model in budget requests was a direct response to these RPP findings.
Follow-up study of nursing communities of practice	The RPP uncovered gaps in knowledge about best practices with regard to school nursing and need for greater clarity and alignment on the purposes of nursing and appropriate outcome measures, directly leading to a follow-up randomized control trial (RCT) and cost-effectiveness analysis of nursing communities of practice. Prior to the RPP work, the district was generally averse to RCTs.