SEDL's extensive network of relationships with researchers, practitioners, and partners at the state and local levels inform our regional priorities. These relationships with state and local education agencies and other stakeholders provide the basis of the ongoing needs sensing in the REL Southwest Region. Conversations with the chief state school officers and the leadership at state agencies in the region provide additional insight into the policy needs of each state.
For our initial priorities, these outreach conversations were substantiated by data presented in the Assessment of Regional Educational Needs: Reports from Ten Regional Educational Laboratories and Statistical Data (National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, IES, 2011), NAEP data, and available student, school, and district performance data for the Southwest.
The following constitute the priorities identified for the REL Southwest research alliances:
- Charter School Effectiveness
- Closing the Achievement Gap
- Early Childhood Education
- Effective Teachers and Leaders
- English Learners
- Hispanic Achievement in STEM
- Rural School Performance