Introducing the New REL Appalachia!

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Introducing the New REL Appalachia!

April 3, 2017

SRI International
Elaine Mulligan, REL Appalachia

When it comes to teaching and learning, evidence matters. State and local education agencies are steadily increasing their reliance on instructional interventions that are supported by high-quality research. We can help with that! SRI International now leads Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia (REL AP), a program funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. RELs provide states, school districts, and other education stakeholders with support for locating and using evidence when developing policies and instructional programs. RELs also provide opportunities for educators to participate in research and evaluation projects that, when completed, produce valuable information for education decisionmakers.

Through REL AP, we collaborate with education leaders in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia to address problems of practice that research can inform and that are a high priority to the region. Working in partnerships, state and district leaders collaborate with REL AP to identify and use or develop evidence that helps educators improve practice. Our partnerships focus on challenges the region faces from early learning through middle school, high school graduation, and the transition to college and careers

Our partnerships are already tackling some of the most challenging issues in the region, as outlined in the table below.

Partnership	Participants	Goals
Kentucky Rural College Readiness	Clay, Jackson, Knox, and Owsley counties	Identify and fill gaps in evidence about types of nonacademic supports that facilitate students' successful college enrollment and completion. Help community leaders developmethods to understand how the diverse interventions and supports available to eastern Kentucky students and families impact students' chances of graduating from high school prepared for success in postsecondary education, training, and careers.
Tennessee Early Literacy	Tennessee Department of Education	Support regional efforts to improve literacy outcomes in elementary schools by: Supporting statewide initiatives to support districts and schools in implementing the Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) framework and evaluating its impact on students' literacy. Supporting implementation of effective literacy practices in all Tennessee schools. Disseminating findings to shape and support regional practice and policy.
Virginia Student Success in Mathematics	Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester city schools	Improve mathematics instruction and student achievement by ensuring that all students: Engage in effective math instruction programs. If needed, receive evidence-based interventions. Master algebra I no later than grade 9.
Virginia Postsecondary Transitions	Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Community College System, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia	Identify, develop, and support the use of effective practices that strengthen high school graduates' transition to college and careers. Answer regionally relevant research questions about credentialing practices in local industries
West Virginia Workforce Readiness	Career and technical education (CTE) leaders from West Virginia Department of Education and high schools implementing Simulated Workplace programs	Support state policy and high schools in increasing CTE graduates' preparation for college and careers by: Evaluating the impact of CTE programs and identifying methods to increase this impact. Supporting educators, parents, and students in engaging in authentic workforce development instructional programs.
Effectively Communicate Data and Evidence	Education leaders in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia	Institutionalize approaches to turning data into readily comprehensible and useful forms. Bolster the region's ability to present data and evidence in ways that produce useful insights for policy and practice. Build local users' data literacy and use of a range of data types, tools, and resources.

Why are policymakers and educators working with REL AP? It's simple: When their instruction is grounded in practices that are proven to improve achievement, students are more likely to have better educational outcomes. By working with REL AP researchers, educators, and policymakers have the support they need to identify and use evidence that helps educators improve practice.