Blueprint in Action Memo: Innovating with Implementation to Solve Education’s “Last Mile” Problem

Federal Education R&D Policy

Report

December 2025

Downloadable Resource

This memo outlines actions that federal research agencies can take to support implementation science, with the goal of solving education’s “last mile” problem.

Download the Blueprint in Action Memo

ALI’s Blueprint in Action Memos are part of an implementation series diving deeper into the recommendations outlined in the Blueprint for the Future of the Federal Role in K-12 Education Research and Development (R&D). Developed in collaboration with InnovateEDU, the Learning Systems Leadership Network, and a task force of over 150 stakeholders in the field, the blueprint and corresponding report respond to federal changes impacting education R&D.

This memo, by Erin Higgins and Emily Doolittle, outlines actionable steps for federal policymakers to address education’s “last mile” problem by including implementation science throughout the R&D pipeline. It emphasizes the need to better understand how evidence-based interventions work in real-world contexts, ensuring they are effectively adopted, adapted, and sustained to deliver meaningful impact for students and educators.

ALI conducts advocacy work thanks to financial support from the Walton Education Coalition (WEC).

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Blueprint in Action Memo: Innovating with Implementation to Solve Education’s “Last Mile” Problem

Downloadable Resource

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