Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Illinois 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Illinois highlighted
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Partnerships

Teaching Fractions Toolkit
Supporting teachers in strengthening students’ mathematics achievement with a focus on fractions. The partnership will draw on a What Works Clearinghouse practice guide to develop an educator toolkit.
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Midwest Alliance to Improve Knowledge Utilization (Historical)
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) calls on practitioners and policymakers in education to use rigorous evidence when deciding how to invest their resources. As a result, many education stakeholders across the Midwest are grappling with how to successfully equip state and local education agency staff to access, use, and disseminate research results.
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Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance (Historical)
The earliest years of a child’s life are a crucial period of development, with the brain forming more than 1 million new neural connections per second. Healthy environments and rich experiences during the early years provide a strong start and can have a lasting impact on an individual’s achievement, health, and even earnings. Investing in young children’s social-emotional development promotes long-term success, leading to higher self-esteem, increased motivation, and better relationships with peers—making this a high-leverage topic for education stakeholders across the Midwest region.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Indiana 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Indiana highlighted
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Partnerships

Employability Skills Partnership
Strengthening high-quality career pathways and programs of study at the secondary level, with a focus on increasing student participation in immersive work-based learning (WBL).
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Additional Indiana Projects
REL Midwest is currently working with partners in Indiana on additional projects to address state and local educational priorities.
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Indiana Management Performance Hub (Historical)
REL Midwest partners with the Indiana Management Performance Hub to leverage Indiana’s statewide longitudinal data system, known as the Education and Workforce Development data system or EWD. The EWD is a collaborative initiative between the Indiana Department of Education, Commission for Higher Education, Department of Workforce Development, and Family and Social Services Administration. Education and workforce data elements are linked across the partner agencies at the record level, joining key education and workforce descriptors for exploration.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Iowa 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Iowa highlighted
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Partnerships

Data-Informed Leadership for Equity (Historical)
This partnership supported Iowa middle school leaders in using data and student-focused practices to reduce disparities in students’ sense of belonging, discipline referrals, and absenteeism.
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Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community (Historical)
The National Education Technology Plan outlines the critical role of education technology in preparing students for postsecondary success. Education technology is an especially important tool in meeting the specific challenges in rural communities, which account for at least one-fifth of public schools in each of the seven states in the REL Midwest region.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Michigan 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Michigan highlighted
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Partnerships

Strategies to Improve Reading
Supporting Michigan educators and school leaders in integrating evidence-based practices into K–1 literacy instruction, with a focus on phonological awareness and phonics.
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Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation (Historical)
Research has found that the biggest in-school factor in strengthening student achievement is teacher quality. However, declining enrollment in preparation programs and low retention in the profession have led to teacher shortages, meaning schools must rely on less qualified candidates to fill some teaching positions. This gap in access to effective teachers highlights the importance of understanding current trends and the challenges associated with recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Minnesota 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.

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Partnerships

Supporting Inclusive and Diverse Educator Environments (Historical)
Supporting Minnesota school leaders in fostering positive working conditions and retaining teachers of color and Indigenous teachers.
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Midwest Career Readiness Research Alliance (Historical)
Ensuring that all students leave high school ready for careers is a high priority for education stakeholders across the Midwest. Navigating the labor market can be challenging for graduates as rapidly changing technology causes some jobs to disappear as others emerge. To ensure a competitive workforce, states are using research and data to understand how best to strengthen career readiness supports and align curricula and instruction with labor market needs.
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Additional Minnesota Projects
REL Midwest is currently working with partners in Minnesota on additional projects to address state and local education priorities.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Ohio 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Ohio highlighted
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Partnerships

Making Equitable Schools Audit (Historical)
Supporting Ohio high schools in efforts to improve school climate and reduce disparities in discipline referrals.
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Cleveland Collaboration for English Learner Success (Historical)
The objective of REL Midwest’s collaboration with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District was to analyze the effects of the district’s Multilingual Multicultural Education Program on language proficiency and content area knowledge development for English learners. REL Midwest’s work with Cleveland stakeholders began in 2017 and culminated with the study’s publication in summer 2019.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Wisconsin 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.

Map of the REL Midwest region with Wisconsin highlighted
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Partnerships

ENgagement and Achievement through Computational Thinking
Supporting Wisconsin grade 6 teachers in integrating computational thinking and student-focused practices into mathematics instruction, with the aim of improving students’ mathematics engagement and achievement.
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Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance (Historical)
Many Black students excel academically and draw on resources such as supportive peers and teachers, as well as strong family ties. However, along their path to educational success, Black students face many hurdles that can prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that Black students are less likely than their peers to have access to high-level mathematics and science courses, more likely to face harsher school discipline, and more likely to attend schools with higher concentrations of inexperienced teachers. These inequities in learning opportunities and environments have been described as opportunity gaps, educational debt, and achievement gaps.
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Latest blogs

Blog

Transforming Fraction Instruction in Grade 6 Math with the Teaching Fractions Toolkit

Dec 31, 2025 by Kinsey Kandray
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Blog

Using asset-based framing to guide decisionmaking about chronic absenteeism

Nov 30, 2025 by REL Midwest
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Blog

The shift to skills-based education and hiring: Supporting multiple pathways to caree...

Nov 30, 2025 by REL Midwest
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Blog

A school leader's guide to using the Teaching Fractions Toolkit to improve grade 6 fr...

Oct 28, 2024 by Melinda Griffin
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Featured report

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Descriptive Study

Estimating Changes to Student Learning in Illinois Following Extended School Building Closures Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education of students in Illinois and around the nation. Leaders at the Illinois State Bo...
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