Evaluation of the Networks for School Improvement Initiative--Networks and Intermediaries

In an effort to improve high school graduation and college enrollment rates among students who are Black, Latino, or experiencing poverty, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation established the Networks for School Improvement (NSI) initiative and awarded five-year grants to intermediary organizations to develop networks of school teams that work together using continuous improvement (CI) processes. RAND researchers are leading a study on 25 of these networks to understand how networks launch and operate, as well as the factors that contribute to strong networks. This report is designed to help organizations that are working toward school improvement, such as intermediaries and school districts, weigh strategies to use CI networks as part of their efforts. The researchers describe the common models and strategies in place across intermediaries to create and lead their networks, facilitate learning among network members, and help build schools' capacity to use CI to improve outcomes for students who are Black, Latino, or experiencing poverty. The researchers also explore crosscutting patterns in how intermediaries centered equity in these activities and how network activities shifted over time. Additionally, the researchers examine patterns in network engagement and development of network cohesiveness. This interim report summarizes findings from school years (SYs) SY2020-21 through SY2022-23. This report is accompanied by three other reports: The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is evaluating CI processes in NSI schools through SY2022-23, Mathematica is evaluating early outcomes of the NSI initiative through SY2021-22, and the three evaluation teams collaborated on a summary report.