REL Reports

The regional educational laboratories provide research–based technical assistance to educators and policymakers though applied research and development that include rigorous studies and fast response projects. The reports that result from fast response projects has been turned into two ongoing web-based series—Issues & Answers and REL Technical Briefs. The overall intent for both series of reports is to provide educators and policymakers with credible scientifically based research on a regular basis. All Issues & Answers and REL Technical Briefs are required to undergo external peer review to ensure that these reports meet the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) standards for scientifically valid research before being published online.

Sign up for the IES Newsflash to receive REL reports.

Issues & Answers

Issues & Answers is an ongoing series of reports from fast response projects conducted by the regional educational laboratories on current education issues of importance at local, state, and regional levels. Topics are diverse and change to reflect new issues, as identified through laboratory outreach and requests for assistance from educators and policymakers at state and local levels. These reports are similar in style to journal articles and include systematic literature reviews to motivate the project, include previous research on the topic, and discuss how the project builds on the research. The method sections are very detailed so that the projects or studies can be replicated. Oftentimes the conclusions provided in the report open the door for future research on a topic. All Issues & Answers reports undergo a rigorous external peer review to ensure that they meet the IES standards for scientifically valid research.

REL Technical Briefs

REL Technical Briefs is the newest series of reports from fast response projects. These reports are designed to help educators and others obtain quick, focused evidence-based answers to their specific requests for information on pressing education issues. REL Technical Briefs offer highly targeted responses across a variety of subjects, from reviews of particular studies or groups of studies on No Child Left Behind Act implementation issues, to compilations or quick summaries of state or local education agency data, appraisals of particular instruments or tools, and short updates of the longer Issues & Answers reports. All REL Technical Briefs are peer reviewed to ensure that they meet IES standards for scientifically valid research.

News From The RELs

Media attention paid to a recent REL West study illustrates the relevance and timeliness of REL's research agenda. "Reenrollment of High School Dropouts in a Large, Urban School District" (REL 2008 – No. 056) garnered in-depth coverage in Education Week and Education Daily, as well as several stories in a local San Bernardino, California newspaper, the Press-Enterprise. The REL West study followed a cohort of first-time ninth graders in California's seventh largest school district, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), to answer the question, what happens to high school dropouts who reenroll? (more info)

Research about high–risk student populations was the focus of REL Northeast and Islands’ second Policy Challenges Conference, held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel, Providence, RI on March 5 and 6, 2008. Over 100 educators, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders representing all states and jurisdictions in the REL Northeast & Islands region attended the conference. (more info)