The U.S. Education Department has awarded new 5-year contracts to 10 Regional Educational Laboratories charged with carrying out research, development, dissemination, training, and technical assistance activities. Administered by the department's National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the laboratories "provide a critical link between research and practice," said Grover J. (Russ) Whitehurst, IES director.

"I'm pleased with the quality of the 10 organizations that have won the competition," Whitehurst said. "We look forward to a very productive relationship as we work to meet the research needs of those engaged in improving the effectiveness of education."

The laboratories, serving geographic regions that span the nation, work to ensure that those involved in educational improvement at the local, state, and regional levels have access to the best available information from research and practice.

Contract amounts reflect the number of local education agencies and school-age children in a region, as well as the cost of providing services.

The 10 new contractors and award amounts by region:

• Appalachia: The CNA Corporation, Alexandria, Va., $26.6 million.
• Central: Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning, Denver, Colo., $26 million.
• Mid-Atlantic: Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., $29.5 million.
• Midwest: Learning Point Associates, Naperville, Ill., $39.9 million.
• Northeast: Education Development Center, Newton, Mass., $42.1 million.
• Northwest: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Portland, Ore., $24.6 million.
• Pacific: Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, Honolulu, Hawaii, $20.7 million.
• Southeast: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, N.C., $37.7 million.
• Southwest: Edvance Research Inc., Austin, Texas, $37.9 million.
• West: WestEd, San Francisco, Calif., $41 million.

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