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About REL Northwest

Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northwest partners with key stakeholders in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to develop evidence that can inform consequential decisions about policy, programs, and practice. Key stakeholders include organizations with decision-making authority and the ability to influence education policy and practice, such as state and local education agencies, school boards, institutes of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations on applied research and development; training, coaching and technical supports; and dissemination. Click here to learn more about the REL Program.

PARTNERSHIPS

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Alaska’s Department of Education and Early Development to measure the implementation of activities in the state’s Strategic Reading Plan. To achieve this goal, the partnership focuses on evaluating the plan’s evidence-based reading activities for K–3 students, studying district-level implementation of those activities, and revising and analyzing a survey about district instructional practices. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Alaska partners—Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Alaska Mental Health Trust, Association of Alaska School Boards, and University of Alaska Anchorage—as they measure and increase implementation of the state’s Transforming Schools framework and related tools to improve student health and safety. To achieve this goal, partnership activities include a statewide research study and continuous improvement processes with particular districts and schools to understand and address challenges in the framework’s implementation. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supported the West Central Mountains Early Learning Advisory Committee as they focused on enhancing access and quality of early care and education to improve early literacy learning for kindergarten readiness. To achieve this goal, the partnership supported continuous improvement around implementing evidence-based practices by articulating the committee’s early learning initiative objectives and creating a plan to evaluate evidence-based programming for early literacy. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports the rural Lower Kuskokwim School District to improve teacher working conditions and teacher retention. To achieve this goal, REL and district partners review evidence-based practices and tools and develop plans for implementing evidence-based strategies to address working conditions and teacher retention as well as examines associated outcomes. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports four school districts in Montana—Hardin, Laurel, Lockwood, and Whitehall—in improving their use of data and differentiated instruction to increase student literacy achievement. To achieve this goal, the partnership aims to refine districts’ multi-tiered systems of support for reading (MTSS-R), improve strategies for data use when selecting literacy interventions, and guide culturally responsive family literacy aligned with MTSS-R. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Portland Public Schools in evaluating the implementation of its 2022–2026 High School Success Plan to improve graduation and completion rates for students from historically underserved communities. To achieve this goal, the REL and district partners develop instruments and processes for collecting data to assess how High School Success Plan activities are implemented and to improve associated educator resources and support. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Seattle Public Schools to increase math proficiency rates of African American middle school students. To achieve this goal, the REL and district partners develop a system of measures for improved math outcomes and engage school and district leaders in accessing and applying data from those measures. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest and the Rural Alliance aim to increase the capacity of leaders in small, rural districts to design and facilitate online or blended learning opportunities. To achieve this goal, the partnership aims to build knowledge of evidence-based practices in online and blended programs by providing coaching and training to leaders in rural districts and capturing guidance that can be disseminated and used statewide. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest supports the Oregon Department of Education in helping K-5 schools implement evidence-based literacy practices to improve student literacy achievement. To achieve this goal, the partnership uses continuous improvement cycles to increase knowledge, evaluate implementation, and share information about the use of evidence-based literacy practices in local education agencies in Oregon. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction as it develops a statewide framework for K–12 literacy. To achieve this goal, the REL and state partners develop a needs assessment survey regarding evidence-based literacy practices. The data will serve as the basis for subsequent work with the literacy framework and professional learning materials that improve adoption of evidence-based literacy practices to ultimately improve student achievement outcomes. Learn more
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports the Oregon Department of Education to measure implementation of its Student Success Plans and how the plans improve outcomes for students from historically underserved communities. To achieve this goal, the partnership aims to refine and identify indicators for the Student Success Plans, develop measures to capture associated data, and plan evaluation activities focused on the extent to which Student Success Plan implementation leads to changes in student outcomes. Learn more

OUR TEAM

REL Northwest is led by WestEd with support from the following partners:

  • Marzano Research
  • Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Analytica, Inc.

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GOVERNING BOARD

The REL Governing Board helps REL Northwest prioritize the education needs of the region, provides strategic guidance on REL work to maximize local effectiveness, and leverages members’ regional networks to amplify and disseminate REL products. REL Northwest Governing Board members represent diverse expertise and experience.

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REL Northwest is conducting a research study to provide vital information to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) and key partners about the implementation of trauma-engaged practices and policies by districts as well as the use of Alaska's suite of trauma-engaged resources. AK DEED, the Association of Alaska School Boards, and the Alaska Division of Public Health within the Department of Health and Social Services will use insights from the study to bolster the suite of trauma-engaged resources for districts.

REL Northwest is helping Lower Kuskokwim School District use research and evidence to inform decisions and actions to strengthen teacher working conditions with the goal of improving retention. Through this technical support project, Lower Kuskokwim will develop an understanding of the research on teacher working conditions and develop tools to assess and monitor data to inform their teacher retention efforts and human resource decisions.

For the Portland High School Graduation partnership, REL Northwest supports Portland Public Schools’ implementation of its High School Success Plan to increase high school graduation rates in two areas: equitable grading and work-based learning. In the first phase of this 2023/24 and 2024/25 project, REL Northwest provided technical support as the district created structures to collect and analyze data on equitable grading and work-based learning practices. In the second phase, REL Northwest provides technical support as the district conducts pilot testing and refinement of new standards-based grading practices.

REL Northwest is providing technical support to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to refine its tools and processes so it can monitor progress toward the objectives and goals of its Student Success Plans. REL Northwest will support ODE to identify key indicators to measure, adapt survey scales and items, and develop a data analysis plan.

REL Northwest will provide technical support to the Alaska Alternative Schools Coalition (AASC) schools to identify which trauma-engaged practices and conditions show promise for enhancing student outcomes in alternative school settings. The partnership brings together REL Northwest, thirteen alternative high schools, serving some of the most vulnerable students in Alaska, the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Behavioral Health, and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). This work will inform future iterations of DEED’s Transforming Schools Toolkit, a resource for schools across Alaska that provides evidence-based strategies to help students that have experienced traumatic life events.
For the Oregon Department of Education Literacy Initiative Partnership, REL Northwest and Oregon Department of Education collaborate using continuous improvement and dissemination approaches to support Oregon educators’ increased knowledge and use of evidence-based literacy practices. In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest provides technical support to the Oregon Department of Education as it evaluates and supports the use of evidence-based practices in schools that received Early Literacy Success School District Grants.
For the Washington Literacy Partnership, REL Northwest collaborates with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to understand current literacy practices in the state and identify focal areas for targeted resources and support. In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest provides technical support to OSPI to analyze responses from the English Language Arts Learning Standards Review Survey, revise the survey to better assess the literacy knowledge and practices of educators statewide, and administer the newly revised needs assessment.
For the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Math Equity in the Middle Grades partnership, REL Northwest and SPS will develop a measurement system that enables schools to track progress towards equitable math instruction for Black male students in middle grades. Over 2023–2024 project, REL Northwest’s training and coaching will support SPS as they create structures to collect, analyze, and act on measurement data.
For the Alaska Literacy Strategic Plan Partnership, REL Northwest supports the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) as they measure implementation and examine outcomes related to activities in the state’s Strategic Reading Plan. In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest provides training and technical support to AK DEED to examine literacy survey and literacy screener data and to make decisions about how to best support districts with targeted professional development.
For the Montana Evidence-Based Literacy Practices partnership, REL Northwest supports four school districts in Montana—Hardin, Laurel, Lockwood, and Whitehall—to improve their use of evidence-based practices related to multi-tiered systems of support in reading (MTSS-R). In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest delivers training and technical assistance to help the districts self-assess their current MTSS-R practices and create an action plan to continuously improve their literacy data-based decisionmaking.
For the Washington Rural Alliance partnership, REL Northwest and members of the Rural Alliance use research and evidence to select, implement, and evaluate the use of technology to support learning and engagement in their districts. In this 2024 project, REL Northwest provides coaching to districts as they select technology that is meaningful in the rural context, design infrastructures to integrate new technologies with existing resources, and develop implementation and evaluation plans to ensure tech-enhanced learning is effective.
In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest provides coaching to Montana’s Office of Public Instruction to better understand the research base on literacy and use this research to inform revisions to the Montana K–12 English language arts content standards.
REL Northwest and Tacoma Public Schools are conducting a mixed methods, applied research study to understand high school student math coursetaking patterns and how those patterns are correlated with later high school math success. In this 2023/24 project, REL Northwest collects and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data to increase Tacoma Public Schools’ capacity to improve math experiences for all high school students and ensure that all learners are supported throughout their math education.

REL Northwest is partnering with the Community College Research Center (CCRC) to evaluate the impact of professional learning materials developed by REL Northwest for the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide Using Technology to Support Postsecondary Learning. In this project, REL researchers will use random assignment design and implementation data to examine the fidelity of the professional learning implementation and determine how it influences instructor practices and student outcomes in participating community colleges in Oregon.

REL Northwest is developing a toolkit of resources to help postsecondary institutions implement recommendations from the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide Using Technology to Support Postsecondary Learning. In partnership with Portland Community College, REL Northwest will create monitoring instruments, professional learning resources for instructors, and institutional guidance to assist postsecondary institutions in maximizing technology use to enhance student learning.

How are districts implementing recommendations from the Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma-Engaged Practice in Alaska? REL Northwest assisted AK DEED in developing a statewide survey tool and administration plan to assess the implementation of the framework and the use of a suite of related resources. The technical support project bolstered AK DEED's capacity to carry out similar survey development and dissemination tasks in the future.

Improving student literacy outcomes is a top priority for Alaska. REL Northwest is assisting the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) in developing an approach for measuring progress toward the goals outlined in its state Strategic Reading Plan. The project aims to develop evaluation questions, identify data sources for measurement, and create short- to mid-term evaluation agendas for selected activities.

REL Northwest delivered a series of trainings to Rural Alliance partners – mostly leaders from eastern Washington rural school districts – to increase understanding and inform decisions and actions to strengthen the region's online and blended programs. The Rural Alliance aims to improve student access to course offerings associated with college and career readiness and success.

Leaders from Montana's Laurel Public Schools seek to accelerate reading outcomes by helping educators more effectively interpret literacy data and respond to trends. REL Northwest is supporting Laurel to increase the capacity and knowledge of educators to use data – including screening, progress monitoring, and formative and summative assessments – to enhance their instruction and ensure appropriate interventions are selected to improve student outcomes.

The West Central Mountains Early Learning Advisory Committee (WCM ELAC) sought to enhance the quality of early care and education in its region to increase early literacy and the readiness of children entering kindergarten. To support this goal, REL Northwest guided ELAC leaders through a capacity-building process to develop a logic model and evaluation plan to guide the initiative's work and monitor its outcomes.

REL Northwest supported Portland Public Schools partners in developing an evaluation plan to help the district use data to monitor the implementation of strategies in its High School Success Plan. The ongoing evaluation plan will enable the district to adjust resources and supports for schools with the goal of improving high school graduation rates for Black and Alaska Native students.

REL Northwest, in partnership with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, will conduct case studies involving Montana school districts regarding best practices in spending Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. REL Northwest will prepare brief, engaging communications materials that provide concrete examples of how districts can use data to identify core issues and focus ESSER funding on evidence-based activities that support student learning.

REL Northwest is supporting the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) in developing a student success plan framework, logic model, and set of indicators that ODE can use to guide the development, monitoring, and evaluation of its statewide Student Success Plans. This will help ODE better partner with community-based organizations, districts, and other grantees to improve outcomes for the historically underserved student populations identified in the student success plans.

REL Northwest assisted staff from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) in analyzing, displaying, and discussing district survey data about reading curricular materials and assessments and publicly available statewide ELA data (e.g., early childhood data, National Assessment of Educational Progress, and Performance Evaluation for Alaska's School). AK DEED staff used what they learned to engage Alaskan leaders, educators, and parents in discussions about the strengths and areas needing improvement related to reading instruction practices, materials, and/or data-based decision-making.

REL Northwest supported the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) by ensuring its new state literacy framework (released May 31, 2023) included the most recent evidence on literacy instruction and insights from literacy leaders. Additionally, per ODE’s request, REL Northwest ensured the evidence and insights were easy to comprehend for stakeholders to help drive improved literacy instruction and increased student reading achievement across the state.

REL Northwest supports the work of Alaska’s Department of Education & Early Development (AK DEED) and its partners as they measure implementation related to activities in the state’s Strategic Reading Plan, aimed at raising students’ reading proficiency. In this project, REL Northwest provides technical support to AK DEED as it revises its district literacy survey related to implementation of evidence-based literacy strategies.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is updating and revising Montana mathematics standards for all grade levels to include the latest evidence on how to best support students. REL Northwest supported OPI by conducting a literature scan of current research and coaching the standards writing team on how to apply the evidence base as they revise the standards.

REL Northwest will train and support the West Central Mountains Early Learning Advisory Committee (WCM ELAC) in strategies for conducting a community needs assessment focused on early learning. REL Northwest will provide training and technical assistance to WCM ELAC as it updates its needs assessment strategies and tools. WCM ELAC will then implement the needs assessment to gather data to inform its early childhood programming efforts and to update its logic model, strategic plan, and evaluation plan.

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