The "EdResearch for Action Overview Series" summarizes the research on key topics to provide K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students. Authors -- leading experts from across the field of education research -- are charged with highlighting key findings from research that provide concrete, strategic insight on persistent challenges sourced from district and state leaders. This research brief summarizes decades of research to offer clear, evidence-based answers to the biggest questions about designing and implementing effective Applied Learning (AL) programs. This brief looks to answer the following question: What is applied learning, how can it benefit all students, and what are the enablers of and barriers to successful implementation? [There was additional collaboration for this EdResearch for Action brief with UC San Diego and USC Dornsife, Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Center for Applied Research in Education. Financial support for this research brief was received from the One8 Foundation.]