Schools and Research: Are They Interested? The Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Experience

Lack of trust is an issue in doing research with schools. A School-Based Research and Practice Network was established by the University of Pittsburgh to create a regional research agenda. Over the past two years, Network staff held meetings with school staff in 43 districts to determine specific research needs, interests, and concerns. The most commonly expressed interests were wellness, mental health, obesity, parental involvement, and technology. All schools had concerns about improving students' academic performance and decreasing social maladies. School staff members expressed curiosity about how research can help their students. Most school districts have little research being conducted, which suggests that there are many opportunities to work with schools. (Contains 1 table.)