REL Midwest Blog
Welcome to the REL Midwest Blog, where you can find stories about our partnerships, projects, priority areas, and more. Have a story idea? Send it to us at relmidwest@air.org.
All Posts
Our 2019 accomplishments: REL Midwest year in review
By Sara Mitrano | January 30, 2020
As REL Midwest embarks on a new year, let’s take a moment to celebrate all we accomplished in 2019. Check out our year in review and companion infographic.
Event recap: Supporting postsecondary success for students with special needs
By Cora Goldston | January 30, 2020
REL Midwest co-hosted an event with the Minnesota Department of Education on helping students in special education prepare for college and a career. Read on for the highlights.
Wrapping up the Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community: Impact and resources
By Marshal Conley | January 30, 2020
REL Midwest is wrapping up work with rural Iowa high schools on integrating technology into instructional practice.
Report examines the results and lessons learned from a new statewide kindergarten entry assessment
By Joni Wackwitz | November 22, 2019
A new REL Midwest report examines the results and lessons learned from Illinois’s first statewide administration of the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey.
The ABCs of academic success: A focus on early literacy
By Joni Wackwitz | November 22, 2019
Our Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance is targeting early literacy. Learn about the alliance’s new research and training projects.
Resource roundup: Supporting early literacy development
By Joni Wackwitz | November 22, 2019
Early literacy achievement paves the way for later academic success. Browse these resources from the REL network and the What Works Clearinghouse to support children’s early literacy development.
Video: Findings from our postsecondary pathways report
October 28, 2019
This video explains the key findings from REL Midwest’s study of the education and employment pathways taken by Minnesota high school graduates.
New report finds variation in students’ postsecondary pathways
By Cora Goldston | October 28, 2019
REL Midwest examined students’ college and career outcomes one year and then six years after high school graduation. Learn more about our key findings.
Understanding the landscape of credit recovery in Minnesota
By Laura Checovich | October 28, 2019
REL Midwest worked with the Minnesota Department of Education to identify credit recovery programs and practices in use across the state to support high school students’ success.
Resource roundup: Supporting student literacy at the secondary level
By Joni Wackwitz | October 28, 2019
Browse this collection of resources from the REL network and the What Works Clearinghouse to support students’ reading and writing skills at the secondary level.
Video: Understanding the ESSA tiers of evidence
September 19, 2019
This video explains the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence standards and how they affect school and district leaders’ selection of school-improvement interventions.
Infographic: The state of credit recovery in Minnesota public schools
September 19, 2019
REL Midwest worked with the Minnesota Department of Education to conduct an environmental scan of practices and programs used to support students’ credit-recovery efforts. This infographic summarizes the scan’s main findings.
New report helps education leaders pinpoint and address teacher shortages
By Cora Goldston | September 19, 2019
REL Midwest’s new report explores teacher supply and demand trends in Michigan. Read our blog post to learn about the key findings.
A passion for partnerships rooted in evidence: Meet Dan Frederking
By Laura Checovich | September 19, 2019
Meet REL Midwest’s newest partnership facilitator, who is working with the Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation to improve district supports for new teachers in Michigan.
Resource roundup: Strengthening and supporting the teacher workforce
By Maggi Ibis | September 19, 2019
Looking for resources on developing a high-quality, stable, and diverse teacher workforce? Browse this collection of curated resources from across the REL network.
Championing social and emotional learning at the state level
By Maggi Ibis | August 21, 2019
REL Midwest is providing coaching to the Indiana Department of Education on how best to support schools and districts as they integrate social and emotional learning into practice.
Understanding why teachers leave: Developing a teacher exit survey
By Marguerite Huber | August 21, 2019
REL Midwest is providing coaching to the Ohio Department of Education on developing a teacher exit survey to help districts and schools better understand why teachers leave.
Resource roundup: Tools for meeting Every Student Succeeds Act evidence requirements
By Cora Goldston | August 21, 2019
We’ve rounded up tools from around the REL network to help you understand the Every Student Succeeds Act tiers of evidence and meet the requirements using research-based practices.
July 30, 2019
This infographic describes what collaborative research partnerships are, how they can be used to address educational challenges, and key facts about how they are employed by the REL Program.
Closing gaps to support the future workforce
By Marguerite Huber | July 22, 2019
REL Midwest is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Education to support school districts in closing opportunity and learning gaps and preparing students for the workforce.
Resource roundup: Issues facing English learner students
By Laura Checovich | July 22, 2019
We rounded up resources from across the REL Program to help educators and policymakers tackle the issues that face English learner students.
New report examines technology use in instruction in rural schools
By Laura Checovich | July 22, 2019
REL Midwest examined rural Iowa high schools to learn more about teachers’ integration of technology into instructional practice. Read on to see what we found.
New report finds that a positive school climate may support success for English learner students
By Cora Goldston | July 22, 2019
A new REL Midwest report examines the student and school characteristics associated with English learner students’ success in Cleveland. We highlight the key findings and takeaways.
Cultivating and celebrating Black students’ strengths: “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave”
By Jameela Conway-Turner and Kyle Fagan | June 27, 2019
A recent Wisconsin conference drew on REL Midwest research to promote promising practices for cultivating and celebrating the strengths of Black students.
The power of centering equity in social and emotional learning
By Joni Wackwitz | June 27, 2019
A recent REL Midwest webinar explored the intersections between equity and social and emotional development and showcased practices to promote equitable SEL.
Resource roundup: Summer reads from around the RELs
By Marguerite Huber | June 27, 2019
Add these new resources from each of the 10 Regional Educational Laboratories to your summer reading and watch list.
What happens when high schoolers are given school options?
By Laura Checovich | May 20, 2019
REL Midwest is conducting a study to analyze how students’ high school completion and early college success are associated with different types of high schools. The findings will help Indiana support high-quality practices that improve student outcomes.
Focusing on retention to build an effective and stable teaching workforce
By Marguerite Huber | May 20, 2019
The Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation is concentrating on retention in the early years of teaching to build an effective and stable teaching workforce in Michigan.
Resource roundup: School choice and charter schools
By Cora Goldston | May 20, 2019
Curious about school choice? We’ve rounded up research reports and webinars on charter schools and school choice from the REL network.
Empowering districts to use evidence: Building a state clearinghouse of evidence-based interventions
By Laura Checovich | April 23, 2019
With REL Midwest’s ongoing support, the Ohio Department of Education is empowering districts to use research and implement evidence-based strategies that fit district needs.
Hitting the road to promote children’s success in kindergarten
By Joni Wackwitz | April 23, 2019
REL Midwest researchers recently hit the road to promote Illinois children’s success in kindergarten. Read on to explore the tools and resources we shared.
Resource roundup for early childhood educators
By Cora Goldston | April 23, 2019
Are you an early childhood teacher or administrator? Check out our roundup of resources from the Regional Educational Laboratory network and the What Works Clearinghouse!
By Cora Goldston | March 20, 2019
Networked improvement communities are one way that school, district, and state education practitioners partner with researchers. See what REL Midwest has learned from our experiences working with these collaborative partnerships.
REL Midwest public TV screenings provide a deep dive into career preparation in rural communities
By Marguerite Huber | March 20, 2019
Screenings of REL Midwest’s public television program, “Ready for the Future: Career Preparation in Rural Communities,” enable educators to explore the topic in depth with experts from the field.
Resource roundup: Issues facing rural schools and districts
By Laura Checovich | March 20, 2019
We rounded up resources from across the REL program to help educators and policymakers tackle the issues that face rural schools and districts.
By Joni Wackwitz | February 14, 2019
School boards can play a critical role in closing opportunity and achievement gaps. Learn how REL Midwest is working to build the capacity of Wisconsin board members to support Black students.
What did REL Midwest do in 2018? Check out our year in review
By Cora Goldston | February 14, 2019
We tallied up our research, training, coaching, and engagement work in 2018. See what we accomplished this year!
By Marguerite Huber | February 14, 2019
REL Midwest responds to your education research questions through the Ask A REL reference desk. Explore the most recent Ask A RELs on a variety of topics.
Infographic: Integrating a focus on equity into social and emotional learning
January 17, 2019
This infographic highlights strategies for grounding social and emotional learning in a focus on equity to help all children reach their full potential.
Collaborating on the skills new teachers need to succeed
By Marguerite Huber | January 17, 2019
In Michigan, REL Midwest brought together K–12 educators and staff at educator preparation institutions to discuss shared expectations for new teachers.
Partnering with districts and schools to identify research needs
By Joni Wackwitz | January 17, 2019
REL Midwest and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are partnering to support district and school staff in identifying and prioritizing their research and evaluation needs.
Resource roundup: Research tools
By Cora Goldston | January 17, 2019
We rounded up tools from across the REL Program to help educators and policymakers conduct research and use evidence and data to inform practice.
By Joni Wackwitz | October 9, 2018
REL Midwest and the Illinois State Board of Education are building on the success of their KIDS Data Use workshops with new train-the-trainer workshops in October and November 2018.
Sharing strategies to increase research-based educational practices
By Cora Goldston | October 9, 2018
Explore how REL Midwest is partnering with practitioners to help states, districts, and schools use research to inform practice.
Resource roundup: The transition to kindergarten
By Marguerite Huber | October 9, 2018
Learn more about kindergarten entry assessments and what it means to be school ready with resources from across the REL network.
Building connections to support career readiness
By Cora Goldston | September 21, 2018
Dominique Bradley, the new partnership facilitator for the Midwest Career Readiness Research Alliance, is building bridges between state and local education staff to improve career readiness for all students.
Connecting across contexts: Promising practices to support Black students
By Marguerite Huber | September 21, 2018
Learn how REL Midwest’s new research review and video on promising practices for supporting Black students are sparking interest across the region.
Resource roundup: Supporting career readiness in rural schools
By Joni Wackwitz | September 21, 2018
We rounded up these career readiness resources from the REL Program and the College and Career Readiness and Success Center with rural educators in mind.
REL Midwest events connect research to our region
By Marguerite Huber | August 16, 2018
Get a sneak peek at the events we are hosting in 2018 to help educators learn about and apply the most up-to-date education research to policy and practice.
Using technology to increase depth of learning
By Cora Goldston | August 6, 2018
Learn how REL Midwest is working with regional and school education staff to identify learning technology that could deepen students’ understanding of core content.
Resource roundup: Back to school
By Joni Wackwitz | August 6, 2018
Gear up for a new school year with these curated resources from across the REL Program and the What Works Clearinghouse.
Video: Kindergarten entry assessments
July 25, 2018
This video discusses the need for kindergarten entry assessments, provides an overview of what kindergarten entry assessments are, and explains the uses and benefits of kindergarten entry assessments.
Resource roundup: Knowledge utilization and data use in education
Meredith Lukow | July 25, 2018
This curated list of resources from across the REL Program provides guidance for gathering and using research evidence and data as well as for identifying evidence-based practices.
How can we increase quality educational opportunities for Black students? Conduct a gap analysis
Cora Goldston | July 5, 2018
REL Midwest’s infographic explains how educators can conduct a gap analysis to compare current policies and practices with research on improving educational outcomes among Black students.
Building a coordinated data system to support early childhood education
Cora Goldston | July 5, 2018
REL Midwest is supporting state efforts to coordinate early childhood data to inform multiagency research projects. Learn about challenges and takeaways from building a connected data system.
What is leadership coaching? How REL Midwest is supporting state strategic plans
Cora Goldston | June 22, 2018
REL Midwest conducts coaching to help state education agency leaders navigate change. Learn more about this service and how REL Midwest is helping one agency accomplish its strategic goals.
Meredith Lukow | June 22, 2018
At a recent REL Midwest webinar, early childhood stakeholders reviewed in depth Wisconsin’s process for developing a coordinated data system and learned lessons to apply in their own states.
Supporting the creation of a postsecondary readiness indicator
Marguerite Huber | June 22, 2018
A group of technical assistance providers, including REL Midwest, offered expertise and resources to help the Iowa Department of Education develop its Every Student Succeeds Act postsecondary readiness indicator.
Resource roundup: Summer learning
Joni Wackwitz | June 22, 2018
Grab a cold drink, find a comfortable spot in the sun, and browse our roundup of high-quality resources on summer learning from across the REL network.
Video: Supporting Black students’ excellence
June 22, 2018
Teachers and administrators in Wisconsin’s Racine Unified School District are implementing several strategies to improve educational outcomes for Black students.
Documentary casts light on novice teacher experience
Emily Kirkwood | May 18, 2018
A 2017 documentary from REL Midwest and Detroit Public Television explores research and real stories from Michigan on the novice teacher experience.
Examining teacher shortages and surpluses to improve equitable access to effective educators
Joni Wackwitz | May 18, 2018
REL Midwest is conducting a study to describe trends in teacher shortages and surpluses in public schools in Michigan. The findings will inform state efforts to address teacher shortages.
Resource roundup: Preparing new teachers
Marguerite Huber | May 18, 2018
REL Midwest curated a list of teacher preparation resources, including research reports, blogs, webinars, and toolkits.
Coordinating early childhood state data
Marguerite Huber | April 23, 2018
REL Midwest’s Early Childhood Education Alliance came together to share and discuss the process of creating an early childhood coordinated state data system.
Resource roundup: Early childhood education
Meredith Lukow | April 23, 2018
Looking for research on early childhood education? Check out these recent early childhood resources on the transition to kindergarten, kindergarten entry assessments, program quality, the workforce, and literacy.
Let’s talk about an important benefit of the research alliance structure
Emily Kirkwood | April 23, 2018
A Q&A with three Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance members explores the relationships that they have built through the partnership and how these connections might impact their work.
Assessing kindergarten children’s knowledge and skills
Joni Wackwitz | April 23, 2018
REL Midwest is conducting a study to analyze the results of the first statewide Kindergarten Individual Development Survey in Illinois. The findings will provide a snapshot of Illinois children’s knowledge, skills, and behaviors at kindergarten entry.
Helping kindergarten teachers understand their students and tailor instruction
Cora Goldston | April 23, 2018
Learn how REL Midwest is training teachers on using data from a kindergarten entry assessment to observe and develop students’ individual knowledge and skills.
Exploring the potential of teacher residencies
Natalya Gnedko-Berry | April 12, 2018
The Michigan Department of Education partnered with REL Midwest to conduct two trainings that introduced local stakeholders to teacher residency models and the program characteristics associated with positive outcomes.
Challenges and opportunities in building a teacher-residency program
Anne Tapp | April 12, 2018
Read how a university created and implemented its teacher residency program to respond to teacher shortage problems, with support along the way from REL Midwest.
Introducing the Midwest Alliance to Improve Knowledge Utilization
Meredith Lukow | March 22, 2018
REL Midwest’s newest research alliance aims to learn more about effective strategies for increasing the uptake of research results by state and local education agency staff.
Marguerite Huber | March 22, 2018
Look no further than the Ask A REL reference desk for your education research questions. Check out this compilation of our most recent Ask A REL responses across a variety of topics.
What predicts early college success in Indiana?
Marguerite Huber | March 7, 2018
REL Midwest assisted in understanding the early college success of students entering Indiana’s public two- and four-year colleges, with a specific focus on students receiving financial aid.
Personalized learning: Answering implementation questions
Cora Goldston | February 26, 2018
A new networked improvement community will examine the implementation of Personal Learning Plans for students’ postsecondary preparation.
Bringing a school counselor perspective to our career readiness work
Joni Wackwitz | February 26, 2018
The newest member of the Midwest Career Readiness Research Alliance, Leah Zimmerman, is a licensed school counselor who helps students chart their career paths amid the ever-changing world of work.
Developing future-ready students in rural areas
Marguerite Huber | February 26, 2018
Regional events help inform REL Midwest’s work around rural issues, particularly when it comes to ensuring that students graduate ready to enter the workforce.
Have you seen these recent career readiness resources?
Emily Kirkwood | February 26, 2018
You won’t want to miss these resources from the College and Career Readiness and Success Center focused on the education-to-workforce pipeline and REL Midwest on American Indian education.
Alliance member snapshot: Leah Breen of the Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation
February 20, 2018
This video provides an overview of the Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation and its important work in Michigan, as described by alliance member Leah Breen.
Alliance member snapshot: Kim Nelson of the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance
February 20, 2018
This video provides an overview of the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance and its important work in Illinois, as described by alliance member Kim Nelson.
How can states equip school districts to adopt evidence-based interventions?
Meredith Lukow | February 5, 2018
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires districts to use evidence-based interventions in low-performing schools. But how do districts know which programs meet ESSA’s threshold? Learn how one state department of education is approaching this challenge with help from REL Midwest.
Research alliances: Structures for collaboration
Marguerite Huber | January 26, 2018
REL Midwest is committed to using research in education. Our new video highlights the role practitioners play in driving REL Midwest research activities and describes our research alliance structure.
Culturally responsive practices bring educators together
Marguerite Huber | January 26, 2018
REL Midwest and a regional education agency in Wisconsin convened educators to learn more about the research on culturally responsive practices to help schools improve educational outcomes for Black students.
Resource roundup: Improving outcomes for students of color
Cora Goldston | January 26, 2018
Want more information on how to better support students of color? We have rounded up high-quality resources on the topic, including research reports, infographics, and webinars.
REL Midwest offers workshops to expand data capacity
Marguerite Huber | December 28, 2017
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction collects a substantial amount of school data. To help staff effectively use it, REL Midwest is leading a workshop series on best practices for collecting, using, and sharing data.
Education Week spotlights researcher and practitioner perspectives on online teacher survey
Emily Kirkwood | December 15, 2017
Check us out in Education Week! A former alliance lead and two members wrote about our study on online teachers’ experiences to illustrate a research-practice partnership in action.
New video dives into the details of developing a collaborative research agenda
Marguerite Huber | November 29, 2017
REL Midwest works closely with our partners to develop long-term research agendas. Our newest video provides an overview of this research agenda-setting process and shares tips for how you, too, can develop a collaborative research agenda.
Top 7 facts about REL Midwest in 2017
Meredith Lukow | November 20, 2017
For a by-the-numbers overview of the year, check out these top facts you should know about Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest’s work in 2017.
Sharing RELevant research: The Ask A REL reference desk
Cora Goldston | November 8, 2017
Looking for education research? Learn how our Ask A REL reference desk can help you find relevant research in a snap.
A year of work toward closing the achievement gap
Marguerite Huber | November 8, 2017
The Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance has had a busy first year of work, including an environmental scan, a literature review, and an in-person event.
Education research resource roundup
Emily Kirkwood | November 8, 2017
In case you missed them, we compiled a list of REL Midwest reports and other resources that were published in 2017.
Policymaking in Indiana benefits from cross-agency data collaboration
Jim Lindsay | October 18, 2017
The Indiana Network of Knowledge (INK), part of the state’s Management Performance Hub, develops structures, rules, and processes for the state’s longitudinal data system. Using data from this system, REL Midwest partnered with INK to explore the relationship between financial aid and early college success for disadvantaged students.
Research methods workshop series: Building Wisconsin’s capacity for education research
Joni Wackwitz | October 18, 2017
Educators rely on data and research evidence to understand what works. Learn how the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is partnering with REL Midwest on a workshop series to build educators’ capacity to conduct, understand, and apply research.
Sarah Rand | October 18, 2017
Clinically oriented teacher preparation programs, often referred to as teacher residencies, provide teacher candidates with opportunities to develop instructional skills by working in the classroom under the direction of an experienced teacher.
Collaborating for English learner student success in Cleveland
Marguerite Huber | October 12, 2017
REL Midwest and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) are collaborating to study the district’s Multilingual Multicultural Education Program and its rapidly expanding population of English learner students.
Meet the NIC member: Michelle Cowell
Cora Goldston | September 27, 2017
Michelle Cowell is an instructional technology consultant for the Central Rivers AEA in Iowa. Cowell tells us how she anticipates the work of the Iowa NIC will complement the AEA’s efforts to improve technology integration in rural districts.
Education technology and continuous improvement resources and events
Marguerite Huber | September 27, 2017
A number of high-quality resources related to continuous improvement and education technology are available online. We curated the following resources, including several from REL Midwest.
Cultural awareness in the classroom: American Indian education and cultural competency
Sarah Rand | September 27, 2017
This post features programs implemented by the Office of Indian Education at the Minnesota Department of Education that are aiming to improve educators’ cultural competence when educating American Indian students.
Collaboration for success: Networked improvement communities
Cora Goldston | September 19, 2017
To explore the use of education technology in rural schools, Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest is working with the Iowa Department of Education, Central Rivers Area Education Agency, and...
Upcoming documentary connects the research on education technology to stories from Iowa
Marguerite Huber | September 19, 2017
Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest has been working with the Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community and...
Culturally responsive instruction: Best practices and supports
Cora Goldston | September 19, 2017
This is the second article in a three-part blog series. In this series, Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest takes an...
A partner in continuous improvement: Central Rivers Area Education Agency
Joni Wackwitz | September 12, 2017
In the small towns and farm country of Iowa, technology serves as a key support for students and educators. To strengthen this...
Cultural awareness in the classroom: Kennedy Elementary
Emily Kirkwood | September 8, 2017
In a three-part blog series, Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest takes an up-close look at cultural competency in education...
Career readiness resources and events
Claire Suh | August 25, 2017
A number of high–quality resources related to career readiness are available online. We curated the following resources, including...
Project takes deeper dive into World's Best Workforce plans
Emily Loney | August 25, 2017
REL Midwest is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to do a 'deep dive' into district World's Best...
State liaison builds coalitions among researchers and local stakeholders
Claire Suh | August 25, 2017
For Taishya Adams, the Minnesota state liaison for Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest, the North Star State is familiar...
Meet the partnership facilitator: Jenny Scala
Cora Goldston | August 17, 2017
Jenny Scala may be new to the Midwest Career Readiness Research Alliance (MCRRA), but this isn't her first collaborative...
Meet the alliance member: Paula Palmer
Joni Wackwitz | August 17, 2017
Paula Palmer, a member of our Midwest Career Readiness Research Alliance (MCRRA), is the director of career and college success...
Meet the alliance member: Chrishirella Warthen-Sutton, Ph.D.
Joni Wackwitz | June 22, 2017
MAGRA member Chrishirella Warthen-Sutton, Ph.D., is the manager of the Office of Family and Community Engagement for the Racine Unified School District...
Task force asks successful educators to share insights about closing the achievement gap
Emily Kirkwood | June 22, 2017
The achievement gap, or the difference in academic performance among different groups of students, poses a significant problem to...
How will MAGRA tackle the achievement gap?
Emily Loney | June 22, 2017
MAGRA will launch two projects in 2017 that support Wisconsin DPI's continued efforts to close the Black–White achievement gap...
Meet the Alliance Member: Leah Breen
Cora Goldston | May 24, 2017
Leah Breen is a member of MAITP and serves as the director of the Office of Professional Preparation Services at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Breen is no stranger to REL Midwest–she was a member of the...
Partners use interactive workshops to establish research agenda
Sarah Rand | May 24, 2017
At REL Midwest, our researchers work with practitioners—state education agency staff, teachers, principals, and school administrators—to figure what is important...
New projects investigate teacher pipeline and residency programs
Emily Loney | May 24, 2017
REL Midwest will lead two projects in 2017 that support the Michigan Department of Education (MDE)'s focus on ensuring equitable access to effective teachers...
Meet the alliance member: Kimberly Nelson
Emily Loney | March 27, 2017
Kimberly Nelson is a member of MECERA and serves as the executive director of early childhood for the Rockford (IL) Public School District. Nelson supervises...