Education Agenda for Student Success 2002-2006

Priority 6: Linking Policy and Practice to Research and Evidence

Education policy and practice at all levels should be based on research findings and linked to student learning results. Initiatives were implemented to help strengthen these links.

6.1

Support partnership research among universities, school divisions and the department.

The creation of a Manitoba Education Research Network (MERN) has helped to support research partnerships among the faculties of education in the province, educators and Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. The MERN website allows educational researchers to share interests.

6.2

Provide assistance to schools and divisions on research and evaluation techniques.

The department has held research forums on numeracy and early childhood development. It supported the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS) conference that focused on Aboriginal issues in education. Staff developed an evaluation guide for schools participating in department-funded research projects on class size and composition.

6.3

Improve evaluation of policies and practices.

The personalized rubrics pilot project and the Speech and Language and Psychology Outcomes projects have helped to enhance evaluation in special needs areas. The improvements to school and divisional planning is helping to create a more reflective planning environment.

6.4

Distribute research and information on promising programs and good practice to Manitoba schools and the public.

The department continued to provide consultative support to schools on a wide range of issues. The Education Manitoba Newsletter, is published three times a year, as a medium for disseminating information. The Instructional Resources Unit has prepared and distributed a bibliography on inclusive schools.

6.5

Schools and the public were informed about successful initiatives in Manitoba and elsewhere on each priority.

To share information about successful practices in Manitoba and elsewhere, successful practitioners in the province were recruited to provide professional learning (e.g. workshops on categorical grants and for new administrators). Successful practices were also used as models in print and Internet publications.

Through MERN, research forums on "Families, Schools and Communities," "School Planning and Reporting," and "Improving Learning Outcomes" were held in Winnipeg, Dauphin and Brandon during the 2003-04 school year. The department also takes advantage of visiting scholars (e.g.; Linda Ellison, Tomasz Gluszynski) to offer informative presentations.