Ask A REL Reference Desk
Ask A REL is a collaborative reference desk service provided by the ten Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) and functions much in the same way as a technical reference library. It provides references, referrals, and brief responses in the form of citations on research-based education questions.
Featured Responses to Questions from the Region
Classroom Management and Discipline (September 2018)
Executive Functioning Skills (July 2018)
English Language Acquisition Proficiency (June 2018)
Play in Kindergarten Classrooms (July 2018)
Responses Sorted by Topic
Below is a list of other readily available responses sorted by topic that Jennifer Klump, REL Northwest's reference librarian, will email you upon request. You can also email your specific question and she will conduct a literature search for the best available research and send you a personalized response.
American Indians
Responses below are available upon request
- Chronic attendance and American Indian students
Beating the Odds
Responses below are available upon request
- Student mobility
Charter Schools
Responses below are available upon request
- School vouchers, charter schools, and federally-funded scholarships
College and Career Readiness
- Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment (May 2018)
- Elementary School Career Development Programs (April 2018)
Responses below are available upon request
- College aspirations and the effect on achievement
- Grouping in high school science classes
- High school special education services
- College and career advisors and coaches
- Exit exams
- Mastery learning
- Grade promotion/acceleration
Curriculum and Instruction
Responses below are available upon request
- Class size
- Integrating gifted programming in general education classes
- Character education
- Standards-based grading
- Looping
- Block schedules
- Combined classrooms
- Grade-span configuration
Data Use
Responses below are available upon request
- Elementary grading
- SAT and ACT exam data
- Assessment systems and practices
Discipline
Responses below are available upon request
- Social skills interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders
- Drug and alcohol interventions
- Teen youth court
- Sexual harassment
Early Childhood
Responses below are available upon request
- Early childhood program evaluation tools
- Interdisciplinary integration in primary grades
- Effectiveness of preschool/prekindergarten programs
- Pre-first grade classes
- Social and emotional development in early childhood
Early Warning Systems
Responses below are available upon request
- High school credit requirements for graduation
- Chronic absenteeism
- Transition to high school
Educator Effectiveness
Responses below are available upon request
- Teacher induction
- Collective teacher efficacy
- Job-embedded professional development
English Learners
Responses below are available upon request
- English learner teachers and special education
- Universal screening for students with dyslexia and English learners
Literacy
Responses below are available upon request
- Fluency
- Sight word instruction
- Dual-credit writing courses
- Summer slide of reading skills
Math
Responses below are available upon request
- Middle school math
- Developmental math courses in college
- Increasing STEM Access for girls and students of color
- Girls-only STEM programs
Online Courses
Responses below are available upon request
- Factors for online learning success
- Online higher education instruction
Postsecondary
Responses below are available upon request
- Merging university programs
- Adult high school diploma programs
- Developmental mathematics courses in college
Principals
Responses below are available upon request
- School leadership and student achievement
Rural
Teacher Preparation
Responses below are available upon request
- Teacher certification
- "Grow Your Own" teachers
Teacher Workforce
Responses below are available upon request
- Bilingual and diverse teacher recruitment
- Parent-teacher conferences
Other
Responses below are available upon request
- Student agency
- Family/parent involvement
- School-based health centers
- Middle school start times
- Unsupervised time at home
- Superintendent turnover
- Learned helplessness
- Business partnerships
REL Northwest's Reference Librarian
Jennifer Klump
To request assistance, research, or to obtain additional information, contact our reference librarian, Jennifer Klump, 800.547.6339, ext. 454, or via email.