Integrating research and development in the National Schools Network

Amidst a host of recent teacher professional development initiatives in Australia, the National Schools Network (NSN) can be seen as a major educational reform program. Funded by the commonwealth and state systems, the NSN is a national network providing support for over 200 Australian schools that are rethinking their work organisations and teaching and learning practices in order to improve learning outcomes for students and teachers. A key aspect of the NSN's work has been to link the professional development of teachers with a systematic research program which focuses on issues of organisational change and restructuring. This paper reports on the ongoing development of the NSN, place its work within the larger national and international educational reform agenda, and provides an overview of the Network's strategic rationale for its research and development programs.