Recognizing the need for educators and policymakers in New York City to have access to strong evidence-based research on educational issues, the NYC Department of Education has endorsed the creation of a non-partisan research consortium that will study what works-and what doesn't-in NYC public schools. The group has been formally named the Research Partnership for New York City Schools.

Richard Arum, professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Science and of education in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, has been instrumental in the formation of the group through his work as project director of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), an independent, non-profit group that focuses research on important public issues.

Arum and his SSRC collaborator Abby Larson brought together two dozen educational researchers from across New York City who drafted an action plan and a concept paper for the initiative. A governance board has been created and includes, among other leaders, William Bowen, former president of Princeton University and the Mellon Foundation; Chung-Wha Hong, executive director, New York Immigration Coalition; Kathryn Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City; Joel Klein, chancellor of the city's Department of Education; and Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers.

"Rigorous and relevant social science research should ideally serve as the empirical foundation for school improvement efforts," Arum wrote. "Now that we have a broad consensus to proceed, we can put in place an organization in New York City as a powerful new public good for our community."

The partnership will produce independent research from scholars at NYU, Columbia University's Teachers College, and the City University of New York. The partnership will create data-driven research that will benefit educators, administrators, researchers, parents, media, and other stakeholders with an interest in improving student outcomes. Its aims are to enlighten educational policy as well as to promote equity and fairness within the school system.

Building strategic partnerships within the community is another major goal of the initiative. Through its Partners in Education Work Group, the initiative will seek out community and advocacy organizations interested in research-based information on educational matters. A community outreach coordinator, Nicky Stephenson, will help put community engagement strategies in place.

The partnership held its inaugural conference in early October and featured a number of research presentations, including research on school funding by NYU's Institute for Education and Social Policy, a joint initiative of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Steinhardt School.