Overview

The Evidence Community of Practice (CoP), facilitated by CoLab, Simple Education Foundation, and Penn State University, is an innovative initiative aimed at a global community committed to achieving educational equity through evidence-informed practices. This community will serve as a dynamic platform where a diverse range of stakeholders – including researchers, educators, policymakers, government officials, funders and practitioners – collaborate, generate new knowledge, share insights and co-create solutions to address educational challenges, particularly in the global south.

Vision

To foster a collaborative ecosystem among education organizations, government bodies and other stakeholders in the global south, driving meaningful change through evidence-based practices, rigorous inquiry, and impactful decision-making that benefits communities and inspires thought leadership. (The vision will evolve as we progress through community participation)

Objectives

Promoting Evidence-Based Practices

Fostering a culture of evidence-informed decision-making among education professionals by creating actionable frameworks for integrating research into classroom practices and school practices

Knowledge
Sharing

Facilitating structured exchanges or proven strategies, case studies, and research findings to address context-specific educational challenges across global and local contexts

Addressing Educational Challenges

Collaboratively identifying, prototyping, and scaling evidence-informed solutions to address systemic educational challenges, with focus on improving student outcomes, teacher professional development and school leadership effectiveness

Co-creating
Solutions

Collaboratively designing innovative, evidence-informed educational tools, frameworks, teaching methodologies to address future challenges in curriculum design, school leadership, and student learning

Professional Growth of Members

Enhancing members’ professional growth by providing opportunities for skill development, peer learning, mentorship, and leadership through active participation in collaborative projects and access to cutting-edge research

Networking and
Collaboration

Building a network of education professionals, researchers, and policy makers to champion evidence-informed equity and co-develop strategies for implementing research into practice.

Why This Work Matters

Why Evidence Community of Practice?

The Evidence CoP stands out by creating a dedicated space that integrates scientifically-derived evidence with practice, addressing a key challenge many organizations face: the gap between research and actionable change. Many educational organizations struggle with implementing evidence-based practices due to limited access to high-quality research, fragmented networks, or lack of collaborative platforms. This CoP aims to bridge that gap by offering a platform that not only promotes evidence use but also empowers stakeholders to critically evaluate what constitutes rigorous evidence.

While the struggle of implementing evidence-informed practices is a significant challenge we will engage with, we also recognize that many organizations are already doing incredible work. However, these efforts often go unrecognized by larger systems because they don’t fit the conventional understanding of ‘evidence.’ The CoP will enable organizations to rethink and demonstrate how their practices also constitute valuable evidence; it will be a powerful step toward broadening the definition of what counts as impactful, evidence-informed work in education.

The CoP’s uniqueness lies in its focus on decentralized decision-making, collaborative creation of knowledge repositories, and fostering a cross-sectional dialogue that aligns local practices with global research standards.

The urgency for this CoP stems from the rapidly evolving educational landscape, where challenges such as learning gaps, inequity, and system-level inefficiencies are magnified by global disruptions like the pandemic. At the same time, the demand for evidence-informed solutions has never been greater, yet many organizations struggle to adapt research into practice effectively. Now is the time to create a collaborative space where educators and stakeholders can collectively harness evidence, innovate, and drive systemic change. The window of opportunity to reshape education systems with proven, scalable practices is open, and this CoP is designed to seize that moment.

The CoP invites a broad spectrum of members, including:

  • Education researchers, academicians, and program designers.
  • Policymakers, government officials, and administrators involved in educational policy and practice.
  • Practitioners in the education sector, such as school leaders and teachers.
  • Funders, evaluators, and NGO partners focused on education and development.
  • All stakeholders interested in evidence-based decision-making and educational policy development.

This diverse representation is essential to ensure a holistic approach to knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the implementation of evidence-informed practices.

The CoP will primarily convene virtually to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. Regular forums, expert sessions, special co-creation workshops, and capacity-building sessions will be scheduled quarterly. In addition to these meetings, we will establish digital platforms such as LinkedIn groups and online communities like Slack for continuous engagement, knowledge sharing, and networking.

  • Promote Change: Be a part of a global movement towards evidence-informed education and actively contribute to driving systemic change across diverse educational settings
  • Generate and Share Knowledge: Not only enhance your own understanding and practice through access to cutting-edge research, but also share your own experiences and insights to enrich the collective knowledge of the community
  • Skill Development: Gain access to innovative curricula, administrative best practices and practical solutions that improve both personal and professional effectiveness
  • Solve Challenges Collaboratively: Work alongside peers to tackle critical educational challenges, drawing on collective wisdom and innovative approaches to solve common problems
  • Network and Gain Exposure: Build meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals, researchers, and thought leaders, gaining visibility and recognition in the field of education while learning from diverse experiences
  • Innovate and Influence: Engage in co-creating evidence-informed educational tools and practices that have the potential to influence broader educational policy and practice, particularly in areas such as curriculum design and school administration

By participating, members not only refine their own skills but also contribute to shaping the practices and solutions that will inform and elevate others in the field. Through collaborative initiatives, the CoP will surface unique approaches to administrative and instructional challenges, helping members and their organizations adopt effective scale

Format and Activities

To foster engagement, learning, and collaboration, our CoP offers a range of structured and interactive events designed to meet the diverse needs of members. These include:

Regular Community Forums

Open-call gatherings for members to share updates, discuss current challenges in education, exchange insights, and brainstorm solutions in a collaborative environment. These forums encourage informal knowledge sharing and peer learning

Expert forums

Presentation-style sessions where leading education experts present on specific evidence-informed practices, followed by a Q&A session. These forums provide members with deeper insights into the latest research and its practical explanations

Symposia

Multiple presentations on related topics, followed by interactive discussions. Symposia focus on diverse perspectives around a central theme, allowing for comprehensive exploration of current trends and challenges

Co-creation Workshops

Collaborative hands-on workshops such as hackathons where members can co-develop innovative educational tools, methodologies, or strategies. These sessions provide space for creativity and practical development

Capacity Building Sessions

Training and skill development workshops aimed at enhancing members’ expertise in areas such as evidence interpretation, data-driven decision-making, and implementing research-based practices at organizational levels

In-Person Conferences

Hybrid events that combine elements from all of the above – expert presentations, symposia, collaborative co-creation sessions, and networking opportunities – culminating in a deep dive into educational innovations and evidence-informed solutions

Partner Requirements

To ensure the success of this initiative, partners will play a crucial role in co-creating and sustaining the community. We expect partners to

Brainstorm and co-create the structure of the global community of practice on evidence.

Design and facilitate collaborative spaces.

Connect with experts globally.

Dedicate 8-12 hours of time per month, including designing, co-creating, and participating in CoP meetings.

Participate in global networking and collaboration opportunities.

Roles and Benefits for Partners

Access to Exclusive Research Findings

Be the first to access cutting-edge research and evidence that can inform your work.

Enhanced Visibility in the Education Sector

Gain recognition as a thought leader in the field of evidence-informed education.

Networking with Global Thought Leaders/Educators

Build connections with a diverse group of professionals from around the world.

Opportunities for Joint Publications and Research Projects

Collaborate on high-impact research projects and publications that can shape the future of education.

Partners Announcement for

Simple Education Foundation

The Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative

The Pennsylvania State University

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Whether you’re a changemaker, researcher, funder, or ecosystem builder — let’s shape the future together.

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