State and district budgets are spread thin as a result of the pandemic, leaving state and district leaders to make tough decisions about what to prioritize and where to invest resources during the COVID-19 crisis and recovery. Actionable research provides state and district leaders with insights into the policies and programs that best serve their communities. This resource discusses short- and long-term action steps that state and district leaders should take to ensure that research supports recovery, including adapting their state's research agenda to answer the most pressing questions, mobilizing research partnerships and investing in building an effective research infrastructure.