Regional Education Laboratories: Home Page

The Regional Educational Laboratory Program (REL) consists of a network of ten laboratories that serve the educational needs of a designated region by providing access to high quality scientifically valid education research through applied research and development projects, studies, and other related technical assistance activities.

Analysis of the Developmental Functioning of Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Populations in Oregon (Today!)
This study reports on the developmental functioning levels of children from birth through age 2 in early intervention services and children ages 3—5 in early childhood special education services at the time of entry into services, using data from the Oregon Early Childhood Assessment System. » more info

The Status of State-level Response to Intervention Policies and Procedures in the West Region States and Five Other States (Aug 3)
Response to intervention (RTI) can be both a system for providing early interventions to struggling students and a special education diagnostic tool for evaluating and identifying students with specific learning disabilities. » more info

Reducing Stereotype Threat in Classrooms: A Review of Social-Psychological Intervention Studies on Improving the Achievement of Black Students (Jul 27)
Stereotype threat arises from a fear among members of a group of reinforcing negative stereotypes concerning the intellectual ability of the group. » more info

Snapshots of Indiana's Full-Day Kindergarten Programs Before and After the State's Funding Increase for the Program (Jul 20)
The Indiana General Assembly increased the state grant funds for full-day kindergarten from $8.5 million for 2006/07 to $33.5 million for 2007/08. » more info

A Multistate Review of Professional Teaching Standards (Jul 6)
This review of teaching standards in six states—California, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas—focuses on the structure, target audience, and selected content of the standards to inform California's revision of its teaching standards. » more info

Archive | Calendar of Events

Experts bring Evidence to Practitioners (EEP) — A REL initiative focused on evidence that matters for wise use of education dollars.

The regional educational laboratories are engaged in a major dissemination effort across their regions to bring the latest findings from IES evaluation research and reviews of "what works" to practitioners. EEP events are innovative, interactive forums combining IES experts with education practitioners and policymakers.

These times of funding uncertainties lead many to ask what research evidence exists that can inform decisions, such as the use of federal education stimulus funds or the policy and practice options at the school, district, or state level. EEP forums introduce the latest evidence on selected topics, helpful for all committed to getting the most educational value from education dollars.

Click here to view EEP Events Calendar

News From The RELs

EEP Event Draws National Audience — "Do we have to provide a label for a child to give the services he or she needs?" asked Dr. Alexa Posny a presenter at REL Southeast's recent conference, Using Research to Strengthen Response to Intervention (RtI) Decisionmaking and Implementation. More than150 participants, including representatives of the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, and local education agencies from 35 states addressed this and other key questions at the March 2009 event. The conference also drew participation and collaboration from nine of the ten RELs and Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers. (more info)

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)

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.

REL Headlines

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