Last week, we introduced REL Northwest with a blog titled, "Who We Are and What We Do." This week, we’ll describe how we, and other Regional Educational Laboratories across the United States, are approaching our work during this new 2022-27 contract cycle.

In past years, RELs identified broad priorities for each five-year cycle and involved larger regional partnerships to understand educational challenges and promote the use of evidence-based practices. In the 2022-27 cycle, the RELs emphasize smaller, more focused partnerships with activities that will lead to measurable improvements in educational outcomes within the five-year contract. The RELs conduct outreach and needs sensing with educators and policymakers, including state, local, and other education organizations, to identify specific needs and projects.

REL Northwest wants to provide research and support where it’s needed the most, especially regarding equity issues that were magnified during the pandemic. Based on conversations with educators and partner organizations over the proposal drafting period, the following priorities emerged:

• Literacy
• Rural educator retention/recruitment
• Trauma-engaged educational practices
• Kindergarten readiness
• Racial equity
• High school graduation
• Blended learning

However, we’re not done identifying needs. We’ll continue conducting needs sensing with potential partners to inform additional work during the next five years.

How We’ll Do Our Work

Following outreach and needs sending, we form partnerships with stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in the field. REL Northwest and our partners then propose specific activities to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that are designed to attain specific, measurable outcomes.

After IES approves, we carry out the planned activities, provide progress updates, and then share the findings with next steps. The results of the activities are shared and communicated through multiple channels to appropriate audiences.

The Types of Work REL Northwest Supports

REL Northwest partners with organizations on three types of work:

1. applied research and research-based development projects,
2. training, coaching and technical support, and
3. dissemination of research and evidence-based practices.

In the coming months, you’ll learn more about our work, our partners and how we’ll support the Northwest region with evidence-based research and practices that support local and regional decisions about policies, programs, and practices to improve learner outcomes.

Please reach out via email, follow us on Twitter and visit our Website to learn more about REL Northwest.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Katie Drummond is the Director of REL Northwest and is responsible for overall project and direction. She brings over 20 years of experience in education research, research-based technical assistance, and practitioner partnerships designed to improve learner outcomes, especially for underserved populations.

Jodi Davenport is the Deputy Director of REL Northwest. She brings substantial experience leading large-scale research projects focused on novel approaches to improving student outcomes, particularly for students underserved in STEM fields.