State and local education agencies faced increased responsibilities from 2017 through 2021, resulting from both changes in federal law and the coronavirus pandemic. The Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs), funded by the U.S. Department of Education at over $54 million per year, aim to help these agencies by supporting their generation and use of research, research evidence, and evidence-based practices. The ten RELs are expected to engage with state and local partners in carrying out applied research, educator training and coaching, and other types of technical assistance designed to build capacity to use data and information to address regional needs. This evaluation examines the extent to which the RELs varied in how they carried out program efforts, starting from the regional capacities and needs they each faced through the products provided to address those needs to their outputs and early outcomes. The evaluation fulfills a congressional requirement to periodically evaluate the REL program with results intended to inform ongoing improvements.
