REL Governing Board Quarterly eLetter

Hello REL Governing Board Members!

I hope the 2023-24 academic year has gotten off to a safe, healthy, and productive start. During this busy time, I wanted to share a few updates with you from the Department's Institute of Education Sciences and its REL Program.

I also wanted to remind you that we'll hold our Fall All-REL Governing Board Meeting on Monday, November 13 at 4 PM Eastern Standard Time. If you missed the invitation, please just send me a note - I'm glad to send it your way. (Login information is also below.)

Warmest regards,

Matt Soldner
Commissioner, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance
Institute of Education Sciences
U.S. Department of Education

ED Releases Update to Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments

Late this past month, the U.S. Department of Education updated its Non-regulatory Guidance: Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments. This guidance focuses on a simple continuous improvement cycle that includes five steps: (1) identifying local needs; (2) selecting relevant, evidence-based practices; (3) planning for implementing those practices; (4) implementation; and (5) examining and reflecting on the outcomes associated with those practices, with the goal of identifying potential improvements.

Many states and districts adapted portions of the prior guidance for their own purposes, linked to it on their website, or used portions of the guidance for professional development. We'd encourage you to check out the revised guidance, share it within your networks, and update any links to reflect the latest edition!

Read more about the non-regulatory guidance on ED's HomeRoom blog, at:
Advancing Opportunity through Building and Using Evidence.

REL Spotlight

In the second in his series, REL Program Branch Chief Chris Boccanfuso writes about how RELs have leveraged their distinct capacity for innovation, rigorous research, and authentic partnership to deliver locally focused and evidence-based support to the regions, states, and communities they serve. The blog highlights the work of the following RELs:

• REL Northwest, examining strategies to improve teacher recruitment and retention in rural Alaska
• REL Central, strengthening the teacher pipeline in South Dakota to alleviate teacher shortages
• REL Pacific, strengthening the teacher workforce in Palau
• REL Southwest, partnering to support early career and aspiring teachers in Louisiana

If you missed the first blog, read it here!

All-REL Governing Board Meeting

Join us for the Fall, 2023 All-REL Governing Board Meeting!

DATE: November 13, 2023
TIME: 4 PM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time
JOIN VIA:

• Microsoft Teams
• Audio Only: +1 202-991-0393,,773808789#

Rather be sent a calendar invitation? Just email matthew.soldner@ed.gov.

Upcoming REL Webinars

Have a special interest in career and technical education or English language learners, or know someone who does? Consider attending (or sharing information about) two upcoming REL webinars.

• Equity in Career and Technical Education: Research and Practitioner Perspectives, hosted by REL Northeast & Islands on October 26.
• English Proficiency and the Pandemic: Where Are English Learner Students' Language and Literacy Skills Now, hosted by REL Southwest on November 14.
  

More information about other REL webinars, conferences, and coaching activities can be found on our website: just click "Events" for more information about what's new.

The Latest in Education Statistics

IES's National Center for Education Statistics recently updated more than 90 tables in the Digest of Education Statistics, including information on trends and topics such as population characteristics, public schools and school districts, college admission tests, postsecondary degrees conferred, labor market outcomes, and computer and internet use. Examples include:

• In 2021, about 111,000 teachers were military veterans. Of these teachers, 85,000 worked in public schools and 26,000 worked in private schools (table 209.27).
• Among full-time undergraduates in 2021, about 40.9 percent were employed, and 10.7 percent worked 35 or more hours per week. Among part-time undergraduates, 77.4 percent were employed, and 48.2 percent worked 35 or more hours per week (table 503.40).
• In 2021, about 34.7 percent of male 25- to 34-year-olds had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33.9 percent of these degree holders had a bachelor's degree in a STEM field. In the same year, 43.6 percent of female 25- to 34-year-olds had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 15.9 percent of these degree holders had a bachelor's degree in a STEM field (table 104.60).

Digest tables are continuously updated and released throughout the year. To view the latest versions of all Digest tables, please visit the "Most Current Digest Tables" page.

Let's Connect!

Well, that's a wrap on this installment of the REL newsletter. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, I can be reached at matthew.soldner@ed.gov. For even more IES content, sign up for our NewsFlash to get periodic updates about the RELs and other IES programs.