Research to practice: A "blueprint" for closing the gap in local schools

The long-standing gap between research and practice in general and special education has become a matter of national concern. Described in this article is a "blueprint" designed to bridge the gap based an lessons learned at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project (JGCP). The goal of the blueprint is to initiate and sustain ongoing interactions between classroom teachers and researchers interested in using research-validated practices in local classroom settings. Its components are partnership, collaboration consultation, and professional development Discussed are the blueprint and some initial findings of its use. Considered are the implications of the blueprint and of successfully moving research into classroom practice.