Ask A REL
Free Reference Desk Responses to Your Education Questions
Ask A REL is a collaborative reference desk service provided by the 10 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.
For example, we can share what is known about a particular intervention or policy, or what strategies work to support particular groups of students. Recent responses from REL West have addressed questions such as:
- Could you provide research-based instructional practices to improve motivation and engagement for writing in grades K–6?
- What does the research say about teacher induction mentoring programs?
- What are some evidence-based strategies used to promote kindergarten readiness?
- What does the research say about tracking (ability grouping) in middle school mathematics?
Educator Effectiveness (47)
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April 2021
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December 2020
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November 2018
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December 2016
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October 2015
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College and Career Readiness (11)
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May 2021
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March 2018
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December 2017
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December 2017
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August 2017
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November 2016
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October 2016
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December 2015
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August 2015
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April 2015
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Literacy (9)
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July 2019
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May 2019
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January 2018
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December 2017
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August 2017
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March 2017
Early Childhood (15)
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May 2019
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November 2018
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December 2017
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June 2016
Postsecondary (7)
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December 2017
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November 2016
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December 2015
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August 2015
Rural (2)
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July 2018
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November 2017
Math (11)
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August 2021
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June 2020
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September 2017
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March 2015
Research Tools (11)
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August 2017
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February 2016
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December 2015
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October 2015
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August 2015
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April 2015
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April 2015
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November 2014
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April 2014
Teacher Workforce (9)
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September 2021
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January 2021
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July 2017
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May 2017
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May 2016
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February 2016
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October 2015
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Teacher Preparation (9)
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July 2017
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November 2016
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October 2015
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Early Warning Systems (3)
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March 2017
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March 2017
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September 2015
Principals (6)
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May 2021
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February 2021
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February 2017
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December 2015
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August 2015
English Learners (11)
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March 2021
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May 2019
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April 2019
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April 2019
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December 2018
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December 2016
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October 2016
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October 2015
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July 2015
Online Courses (3)
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October 2016
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June 2016
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December 2015
Data Use (5)
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August 2021
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July 2021
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July 2018
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November 2014
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April 2014
Other (22)
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April 2021
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American Indians (1)
“Ask A REL has been a life saver. Research is critical to crafting good policy, but as Legislative staff working on tight timelines we rarely have the time to dive deeply into the literature on a topic. Ask a REL has given me timely, comprehensive research summaries on key issues of concern to our Legislature. Their work has had a direct impact on the development of sound education policy for California.”
—Tanya Lieberman, Deputy Chief Consultant, California Assembly Education Committee