Regional Needs  |  Projects

Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, & Washington

In a combination of surveys of educators in the region, state needs analysis forums, and other interactions with regional policymakers and practitioners, REL Northwest has identified the following regional needs:

1. Problems in identifying and implementing best practices.  While identifying the problem, finding practices directed at problems, and achieving expected results were also areas of concern, actual implementation of new practices was rated as most problematic.
2. Problems in improving school attendance.  Strengthening connections between home and school was identified as the area most helpful in improving school attendance; to a lesser degree was dealing with effects of family culture, creating schools as a welcoming place, and developing a safety net of support systems for students.
3. Increasing high school graduation rates.  Providing supplemental supports for students at risk was seen as the most significant way to increase graduation rates.
4. Leading local improvement.  Superintendents and principals rated providing ongoing professional development of principals to lead change as most significant, while teachers rated recruiting and retaining principals who can lead improvement and mentoring and coaching of principals as most significant.
5. Sustaining school and district improvement.  Creating more opportunities for teacher collaboration on school improvement was rated as a high need across all role groups surveyed.