REL Northwest

Alaska

Idaho

Montana

Oregon

Washington

Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northwest partners with key stakeholders in Alaska 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

Alaska Literacy Strategic Plan Partnership

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Alaska’s Department of Education and Early Development efforts to measure the implementation of literacy initiatives related to the Alaska Reads Act. To achieve this goal, the partnership focuses on evaluating evidence-based reading activities for K–3 students, studying district-level implementation of those activities, administering a survey about district instructional practices, and revising the state literacy plan.

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Lower Kuskokwim Teacher Recruitment and Retention

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. Through this work, the partnership is also developing and disseminating a user-friendly tool to help rural districts document, test, and refine strategies to improve working conditions and teacher retention. The tool will be shared nationally through conference presentations, the REL website, and social media to extend the impact beyond LKSD.

Read More Lower Kuskokwim Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Alaska Trauma-Engaged Schools (Historical)

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supported 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 focused 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.

Read More Alaska Trauma-Engaged Schools (Historical)

Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance (Historical)

REL Northwest worked across the region to increase awareness of effective strategies and programs for serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students. Specifically, the REL worked with the Education Committee of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians through a partnership known as the Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance (NW TEA). Through this partnership, we set goals to increase access to resources that support Native students' academic success, improve public education systems, enhance tribal consultation and collaboration, and honor principles of tribal self-determination in education.

Read More Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance (Historical)

Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northwest partners with key stakeholders in Idaho 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

Idaho Career and Technical Education to Workforce Pipeline

In this 2026 project, REL Northwest provides technical support to the Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to review and interpret findings from best practices and examples of middle grade CTE standards. Project tasks include reviewing and aligning middle and high school CTE paths with postsecondary training and regional workforce needs and analyzing viable funding levels for high-priority CTE programs of study.

West Ada, Idaho’s Career and Technical Education Proficiency Scales

In this 2026 project, REL Northwest provides coaching and technical support to the West Ada School District in Idaho to develop career and technical education standards-based proficiency scales informed by evidence-based recommendations and best practices. The work involves pilot-testing the use of the new proficiency scales.

Early Learning Evidence-Based Practices in Idaho (Historical)

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.

Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northwest partners with key stakeholders in Montana 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 Northwest region with Montana highlighted

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Partnerships

Literacy Evidence-Based Practices in Montana Districts

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports four school districts in Montana—Hardin, Laurel, Lockwood, and Whitehall—in improving and sustaining their use of data and differentiated instruction to increase student literacy achievement. To achieve this goal, the partnership uses continuous improvement cycles to refine districts’ multi-tiered systems of support for reading (MTSS-R) and improve strategies for data use when selecting literacy interventions, and guide family engagement aligned with MTSS-R.

Read More Literacy Evidence-Based Practices in Montana Districts

Montana Education Research Alliance (Historical)

The Montana Education Research Alliance (MERA) was a partnership between REL Northwest and state, local, and tribal education stakeholders in Montana. The alliance's goal was to strengthen the use of data and research to inform practice and policy decisions on key state challenges.

Read More Montana Education Research Alliance (Historical)

Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northwest partners with key stakeholders in Oregon 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 Northwest region with Oregon highlighted

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Partnerships

Oregon Department of Education Literacy Initiative Partnership

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 leverages coaching and technical assistance across related projects to increase knowledge, evaluate implementation, and share information about the use of evidence-based literacy practices in local education agencies in Oregon.

Portland High School Graduation

Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest supports Portland Public Schools in evaluating the implementation of its 2022–2026 High School Success Plan to improve graduation and completion rates for all students. To achieve this goal, the REL and the district partner develop instruments and processes for collecting and analyzing data to assess how High School Success Plan activities are implemented and to improve associated educator resources and support.

Read More Portland High School Graduation

Oregon Mathematics Instruction Framework: Research to Practice

In this 2026 project, REL Northwest provides technical support to the Oregon Department of Education to review current research on high-quality mathematics teaching and learning. The work involves collecting focus group data from educational stakeholders on high-quality mathematics instruction and translating the research synthesis and feedback into the framework. The final instructional framework will articulate a cohesive vision of high-quality evidence-based mathematics instruction, establish a shared vocabulary for teaching and learning, and provide actionable guidance for district leaders on the adoption and implementation of high-quality instructional materials.

Oregon Student Success Plan Measurement and Monitoring Partnership (Historical)

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supported 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 aimed to refine and identify indicators for the Student Success Plans, developed measures to capture associated data, and planned evaluation activities focused on the extent to which Student Success Plan implementation leads to changes in student outcomes.

Equity in School Discipline Collaborative (Historical)

REL Northwest facilitated this cross-state collaborative, which brought together state education agencies, educational and community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education in Oregon and Washington to address the issue of equity in school climate and discipline.

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Oregon Graduation and Postsecondary Success Alliance (Historical)

REL Northwest partnered with stakeholders in the Oregon Graduation and Postsecondary Sucess Alliance to support efforts that increase high school graduation rates and improve postsecondary education access and completion. The alliance focused on closing equity gaps that affect historically underserved students.

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.

Map of the REL Northwest region with Washington highlighted

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Partnerships

Washington Literacy Partnership

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supports Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction as it develops and disseminates a statewide framework for K–6 literacy. To achieve this goal, the REL and state partners developed a needs assessment survey regarding evidence-based literacy practices. The data serves as the basis for subsequent work with the literacy framework and professional development and implementation guidance resources that improve adoption of evidence-based literacy practices to improve student achievement outcomes.

Read More Washington Literacy Partnership

Washington State Framework for Mathematics Instruction: Research to Practice

In this 2026 project, REL Northwest provides research and technical support to Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify instructional practices and their alignment with evidence-based mathematics practices to integrate into a coherent mathematics framework to support local education agencies in improving mathematics instruction across the state.

Analyzing Math Coursetaking Patterns and Experiences for High School Students in Tacoma Public Schools

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 2023-2026 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.

Seattle Public Schools Math Achievement in the Middle Grades (Historical)

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest supported Seattle Public Schools to increase math proficiency rates of middle school students. To achieve this goal, the REL and district partners developed a system of measures for improved math outcomes and engaged school and district leaders in accessing and applying data from those measures.

Washington Rural Alliance for Blended Learning (Historical)

Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest and the Rural Alliance aimed 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 aimed 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.

Washington State Vibrant Teaching Force Alliance (Historical)

REL Northwest partnered with state and district leaders to understand and find solutions to Washington's teacher shortage. The alliance focused on developing strategies to recruit, train, and retain a diverse and skilled teaching force that reflects the racial/ethnic and linguistic diversity of Washington's students and is responsive to their learning needs.

Latest Blogs

Research insights

Unlocking the Power of Community Engagement Data in Education

May 01, 2026 by Lilla Pivnick

Blog

How Rural Districts Can Improve Teacher Retention by Strengthening Working Conditions...

May 01, 2026 by Trudy Cherasaro

Blog

Effective Surveys to Improve New Education Initiatives: Turning Feedback into Action

Apr 30, 2026 by Lilla Pivnick

Blog

Making Informed 9th Grade Math Placement Decisions

Jan 07, 2026 by Lilla Pivnick

Featured report

Descriptive Study

REL Northwest

Partnerships

Partnerships

Partnerships

Partnerships

Partnerships

Latest Blogs

Unlocking the Power of Community Engagement Data in Education

How Rural Districts Can Improve Teacher Retention by Strengthening Working Conditions...

Effective Surveys to Improve New Education Initiatives: Turning Feedback into Action

Making Informed 9th Grade Math Placement Decisions

Featured report

Implementation of Career-and College-Ready Requirements for High School Graduation in Washington