Her research addresses how curriculum and instruction, teacher education, and policy interact to shape the classroom experiences of multilingual students in K-12 schools. In a key strand of this research, Dr. Thompson collaborates with education agencies in researcher-practitioner partnerships to analyze longitudinal data about multilingual students in novel ways that inform policy and practice. Currently, Dr. Thompson serves as the Principal Investigator for the ODE/OSU English Language Learner Partnership, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the Spencer Foundation. In another strand of her research, Dr. Thompson focuses on developing innovative ways for teachers to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the needs of multilingual students.