The ten Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) work in partnership to conduct applied research and training with a mission of supporting a more evidence-based education system. Learn more about REL Mid-Atlantic...
New Infographic on Using Promotion Power to Identify High School Effectiveness
Check out a new infographic on our study to examine the promotion power of public high schools in DC- an approach that accounts for factors outside a school's control when examining the school's effectiveness, such as how prepared students are coming into high school and other background characteristics.
The REL helped analyze remote learning data from Pittsburgh Public Schools to determine how student achievement was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to instruction. The REL found that students in most grades experienced growth, although less than typical. Check out this presentation to the Board and methodology memo to learn more.
Check out the latest newsletter for the latest news from the Director and back-to-school highlights!
Strong partnerships with adults at home and school working together can help families feel empowered to engage in and support the learning and teaching happening at school. This new fact sheet provides districts, schools, and educators with resources they can use to build relationships, communicate effectively with families, and help engage them in their children’s learning and development.
New Infographic on Fostering Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
Check out a new infographic shares findings from a REL Mid-Atlantic study that explains why schools or districts should measure SEL competencies, what they should measure, and how to get started measuring and developing these competencies for their students.
Latest from the REL Mid-Atlantic Blog:
Making Sure School Performance Measures Provide the Right Diagnosis to Improve Student Outcomes
Measuring school performance has been an important component of state and federal policies for two decades. Measures based exclusively on reading and math proficiency have given way to more complex and sophisticated approaches incorporating growth or value-added data as well as indicators of chronic absenteeism, college readiness, or school climate. Pundits and researchers continue to debate whether high-stakes accountability policies have led to improved school performance—and/or to unintended negative side effects.
Many districts use early warning systems to identify students who are struggling. These systems typically use academic measures. However, relying exclusively on academic measures to identify at-risk students may miss other determinants of success, such as social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies and school climate.
Balancing Act: Shortening State Assessments Without Sacrificing Reliability
Reducing the time teachers spend administering assessments can alleviate the stress of testing on students and educators and reduce lost instructional time, an especially high priority following school closures during the pandemic. Education leaders must weigh the benefits of assessment against the loss of instructional time and other burdens of testing on schools, staff, and students. Understanding these trade-offs can help states and districts across the nation plan to return to full-time in-person instruction and inform state-level assessments.
Read our latest and past blog posts.
Featured Infographics and
Fact Sheets
Featured Video
Six Ways to Increase Student Engagement In-person and Virtually
Featured Publications
Ask A REL
Ask A REL is a collaborative reference desk service provided by the ten RELs and functions much in the same way as a technical reference library.
Fostering Social and Emotional Learning Competencies (1.5 MB)
Using Promotion Power to Identify the Effectiveness of Public High Schools in the District of Columbia
