Feds Unveil REL Program Web Site

December 8, 2006

In the spring of 2006, new five-year contracts were awarded by the Institute of Education Sciences to fund the nationwide network of Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs). Now educators can learn about the scope of work of all 10 RELs at the comprehensive new Web site, http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/

According to the Web site, the main priority for the RELs during the 2006-2010 contract period is to help education practitioners and policymakers “interpret the latest findings from scientifically valid research that pertain to requirements that they must meet under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.” When scientific evidence is not available, RELs are responsible for delivering assistance to schools by way of Fast Response Projects and Rigorous Studies.

The applied research and development activities conducted by the RELs are organized under three main headings: Implementing NCLB, Improving Schools, and Raising Student Achievement. Users have two searching options. They can read about the educational needs of a particular region and how the activities of the REL respond to those needs by visiting the REL home page (just click on the dynamic map). Alternatively, visitors can find projects most relevant to their research by using the Interactive Project Selector. For instance, educators interested in projects designed to assist Schools In Need of Improvement under the Implementing NCLB heading, will find an experimental study being conducted by NWREL called Creating Independence through Student-owned Strategies (CRISS) Reading Program.

Other features of the Web site include related links to various U.S. Department of Education sites and a calendar of events for lab activities.

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