December 2, 2025 | By the LEARN Network
Investment in education research and development (R&D) is an essential component of the American education system. Promising ideas – backed by quality research – have the potential to become innovative new tools and solutions that can improve student outcomes, support schools and educators at scale, and address long-standing systemic challenges.
In many instances, however, even effective innovations can struggle to reach the schools, classrooms, and students that need them most. The LEARN Network, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and led by SRI, was created to address this challenge.
For the past three years, Network researchers have partnered and collaborated with both growing and established R&D teams from across the U.S. to learn from the field, create accessible tools and resources, and help innovators transform promising research into products, programs, and practices that improve education at scale.
In a new LEARN Network brief, “Going the Distance: Reflections on Supporting Scalable Educational Innovation,” SRI’s Kerry Friedman and Digital Promise’s Rebecca Griffiths share practical takeaways and lessons learned from the network’s original research, interviews with national leaders, and collaborations with R&D teams including Inq-ITS, A2i, Cognitive Toybox, and STARI.
The brief offers informed insights and detailed recommendations for funders, developers, and researchers committed to expanding the reach and impact of educational innovations.
“The education market is complex and crowded. Simply developing an effective solution isn’t enough to achieve scale,” said Friedman, director of the LEARN Network. “This brief distills years of investigation into what works, what doesn’t work, and why, to help R&D teams reach more of their intended users and drive education forward.”
Read the full brief here, and browse some highlights below.
1. Defining What “Scale” Really Means
“Scale” can mean many things—from the number of schools in a study to meaningful integration across classrooms and systems. True scale requires both reach and fidelity—ensuring innovations fit the contexts and people they aim to serve.
“Scaling isn’t just about how many schools you reach,” said Friedman. “It’s about how well the innovation aligns with the systems and educators who use it.”
2. The Power of People
Successful scaling depends as much on people as on products. Teams with a blend of research expertise, entrepreneurial thinking, and practical experience were most effective in growing their innovations. Funders and leaders should consider not just ideas, but team capabilities and motivation when supporting new initiatives.
3. Designing with Users, Not Just for Them
The most scalable products emerge from authentic partnerships with educators. These collaborations ensure solutions address real-world priorities – such as usability, cost, and reliability – alongside evidence of effectiveness. Engaging teachers and district leaders throughout development turns them into powerful champions for adoption.
4. Connecting Through Trusted Networks
In an increasingly crowded education marketplace, school and district leaders rely most on peer recommendations and trusted intermediaries when choosing tools. Partnerships with organizations like regional service agencies, professional associations, and technical assistance centers can help R&D teams reach schools more effectively and sustainably.
5. Building the Capacity to Scale
The LEARN Network provided R&D teams with coaching, frameworks, and marketing support, resources that helped them strengthen internal systems and develop scaling strategies. Throughout their work, Network team members learned that scaling requires new skills, such as go-to-market planning to relationship management, that complement traditional research expertise.
“Teams that embraced a market-first mindset found new ways to extend their mission-driven impact,” says Friedman.
Learn More
- Read the full brief: Going the Distance: Reflections on Supporting Scalable Educational Innovation
- Explore the LEARN to Scale Toolkit and our Stories of Scaling series
- Access our new Procurement Data Dashboard
- Browse the LEARN Network blog
Are you interested in designing and scaling educational products and programs? Connect with SRI’s team of national experts.