Regional Needs  |  Projects

Central: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

The Central Region Educational Laboratory (REL Central) serves the education needs of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. REL Central, administered by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) is tasked with conducting scientifically-based research and developing research-based solutions to state and local needs to help schools and districts implement the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. Our commitment is to serving the needs of the region and the nation by providing access to high-quality, scientifically-valid research through applied research and development projects, studies, and related technical assistance activities.

Contract Goals

McREL has established four key goals for its laboratory work in the Central Region over the five-year contract period:

1. To assess regional education needs and priorities on an ongoing basis through a variety of means.
2. To address identified regional needs and priorities through:
1. training and technical assistance;
2. Fast Response applied research and development projects; and
3. rigorous applied research studies (Task 2).
3. To coordinate activities through the National Laboratory Network to avoid duplication of efforts across the Network.
4. To disseminate findings from Fast Response applied research and development projects and from rigorous applied research studies through the National Laboratory Network website, presentations, research briefs, and other appropriate means of dissemination.

Meet REL Central

The REL Central team includes a state liaison who assists with needs assessment and dissemination in each of our states, along with researchers assigned to each Task 2 study and to Fast Response studies.  A REL Management Team meets on a monthly basis to provide updates and anticipate and resolve issues related to the REL contract. 

Lab Director:
Dr. Louis Cicchinelli
Governing Board