The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) has been awarded two major grants by the United States Department of Education to provide assistance to Northwest schools. One grant is to operate a consortium for technology in education and the second is to operate a mathematics and science education consortium. The regional awards, each for five years, total $12,438,200.

The two consortia serve the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. In announcing the awards, Dr. Ethel Simon-McWilliams, Laboratory Executive Director/CEO, said, "We are very pleased that the United States Department of Education has recognized the Laboratory's extensive capabilities to assist schools. It is the schoolchildren of the Northwest who are the true beneficiaries."

The Northwest Consortium for Mathematics and Science Teaching (Northwest CMAST) will work with state departments of education, school districts, and other key partners to provide educators access to best practices, particularly for diverse learners; assistance to help those in rural areas overcome isolation and lack of resources; services to low-performing schools to support all students' efforts to meet state performance standards; and help for teachers in using classroom assessment to guide mathematics and science instruction.

"These activities directly target the needs of Northwest educators and stakeholders as they strive to implement high-quality and challenging mathematics and science programs for all K-12 students," said Kit Peixotto, director of the NWREL Mathematics and Science Education Center, which will administer Northwest CMAST. The award for the first year of the mathematics and science consortium is $1,498,200.

The Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC) will provide intensive services to educators and policymakers in the use of technology to facilitate fundamental shifts in teaching and learning. It will help align technology use with K-12 school improvement and reform goals, ensuring equitable access for all students to high-quality learning opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged students. It will also work to improve the entry, retention, and development of highly qualified teachers.

"Northwest state departments of education are instrumental as NETC carries out its work to deliver workshops, institutes, and training-of-trainer events," said Dr. Seymour Hanfling, director of the NWREL Technology in Education Center. "Supporting these activities will be development of video, CD-ROMs, print materials, comprehensive Web sites, and courses delivered through telecommunications systems in the region." The award for the first year of NETC's work is $990,000.

Under a prior grant, the Laboratory has operated the regional technology consortium for the past five years.

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