Research for Action Roundup

RFA Roundup
Insights Into Action.

Black at the Whiteboard – A Virtual Listening Event

Please join us on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 6 pm ET as we launch Research for Action’s limited podcast series, Black at the Whiteboard, created and hosted by teacher-researchers Andrea Barnes and Vicki Green and produced in collaboration with Mignon Combs and Quynh Van of Diseducation podcast.

This groundbreaking series amplifies the voices of Black educators, sharing their raw experiences and addressing the challenges they face in America's classrooms. It also elevates the important role Black teachers have played in our educational system over time. The series draws on important research led by Black teacher-researchers from Philadelphia and Detroit in partnership with RFA researchers.

Together, we’ll listen to audio clips of the podcast episodes followed by an interactive discussion with the creators and producers of the podcast and the teacher-researchers who led this work.

Expanding Access to Afterschool and Summer Youth Programs

Dr. Tracey Hartmann to Lead National League of Cities Webinar

Join RFA's Dr. Tracey Hartmann at the National League of Cities webinar on expanding access to afterschool and summer programs. On February 13, 2025, Tracey will join national experts to discuss innovative strategies for bringing more youth opportunities to communities. Learn how cities can act as local intermediaries, form critical partnerships, and support existing programs. Drawing from the Wallace Foundation's latest report, this webinar offers actionable insights for city leaders and education advocates committed to creating robust out-of-school time experiences for young people.

ATTEND

Funders' Collaborative on Youth Organizing (FCYO) 2025 Field Scan

Calling All Youth Organizers: Share Your Voice and Help Us Build the Power to Win!

We are inviting youth-led and intergenerational organizations to participate in a survey that helps highlight the transformative work of youth organizers and strengthen the field’s collective work. This survey is part of a field scan RFA is conducting in partnership with Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing (FYCO). Your participation will shape understanding of the field's ecosystem, challenges, and future vision. Organizational leaders or those familiar with your group's full scope are encouraged to complete the survey. All survey participants will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of four $500 vouchers to be used for organizational coaching, consultation, and/or training with Midwest Academy, The Organizing Center, or The Management Center.

START HERE

Watch: Analysis of Emergency Permits for Teachers in Pennsylvania

New data reveals a troubling trend in Pennsylvania's public schools - the skyrocketing use of emergency teaching permits to fill vacant positions. RFA’s Sean Vannata recently hosted a webinar that dives deep into the numbers, exploring which districts and subject areas are most impacted. Watch it to learn from education leaders as they analyze the causes and consequences of a growing reliance on uncertified teachers in the Keystone State.

WATCH

Recent News

RFA in the News: Ten of the Biggest Issues to Watch in 2025

Public schools will remain a major battleground in the culture wars, with school boards battling over transgender students’ rights, parental input into curriculum and controversy surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. RFA Executive Director Kate Callahan spoke with Governing magazine about the issues to watch in 2025.

RFA in the News: PA pushes for more Black male teachers through education apprenticeship program

In the field of education, Black male teachers make up less than 2% of public teachers across the U.S. That number is slightly higher in Philadelphia, with between 4% and 4.5% Black male teachers in the district, according to a report by Research for Action, an education research group based in Philadelphia.

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Research for Action conducts research, evaluations, and technical assistance to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all learners.

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