Regional Educational Lab (REL) Southwest partners with key stakeholders in Arkansas 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, institutions of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations to conduct applied research and development; provide training, coaching and technical supports; and disseminate evidence-based practices.

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Partnerships

Building Pathways for Student Success
Helping Arkansas educators implement and evaluate high-quality interventions and initiatives that strengthen students’ academic outcomes and well-being, preparing them for success beyond high school.
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Southwest College and Career Readiness Research Partnership (Historical)
Arkansas has as a priority in its state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that all public high school students graduate well prepared for college, competitive employment, military service, or another career path. REL Southwest worked with the Arkansas Department of Education and other partners to support these efforts by building the state’s data literacy and deepening its understanding of college and career readiness.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Southwest partners with key stakeholders in Louisiana 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, institutions of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations to conduct applied research and development; training, coaching and technical supports; and disseminate evidence-based practices.

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Partnerships

Supporting Early Career and Aspiring Teachers
Helping Louisiana educators nurture and sustain aspiring and early career teachers to build a better supported teacher workforce.
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Louisiana Charter Schools Research Alliance (Historical)
This alliance, consisting of charter school educators, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the state, uses data and evidence to investigate factors affecting student achievement and to explore indicators of program quality and effectiveness among Louisiana charter schools.
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Southwest Teacher Preparation and Professional Development Research Partnership (Historical)
Louisiana, like many states, faces significant challenges ensuring qualified teachers for all subjects, particularly in schools serving the highest concentrations of low-income households. To address this challenge, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has launched Believe and Prepare, a statewide teacher residency program. REL Southwest is working with LDOE and other partners to provide research-based evidence on the program.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Southwest partners with key stakeholders in New Mexico 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, institutions of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations to conduct applied research and development; training, coaching and technical supports; and disseminate evidence-based practices.

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Partnerships

Southwest English Learner Literacy
Helping New Mexico educators deliver high-quality literacy instruction that supports all students, including English learner students, in developing stronger literacy and writing skills.
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New Mexico Prekindergarten Research Alliance (Historical)
This alliance brings together early childhood stakeholders representing publicly funded preK, community-based childcare, and Head Start to investigate prekindergarten program participation and student success, quality early childhood programs, students' transition to kindergarten, and funding of early childhood programs in New Mexico.
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Southwest English Learners Research Partnership (Historical)
With one of the highest proportions of English learner (EL) students in the nation, New Mexico has prioritized providing high-quality EL language instruction. REL Southwest is working with the New Mexico Public Education Department and other partners to support these ongoing efforts.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Southwest partners with key stakeholders in  Oklahoma 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, institutions of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations to conduct applied research and development; training, coaching and technical supports; and disseminate evidence-based practices.

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Partnerships

Leading Early Childhood Achievement and Development
Helping Oklahoma early childhood educators deliver research-based early learning practices that improve student outcomes.
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Southwest Early Childhood Education Research Partnership (Historical)
Oklahoma has prioritized the alignment of the state’s early learning standards and assessments to strengthen the quality of state-funded early learning programs and ensure that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn. REL Southwest is working with the Oklahoma State Department of Education and other partners to support these efforts.
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Southwest Networked Improvement Communities Research Partnership (Historical)
Research cannot always keep pace with educators’ need for evidence to inform practice. Networked improvement communities (NICs) accelerate the process by testing and refining potential solutions through a series of rapid mini-trials and then scaling up what works. REL Southwest is partnering with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to support the use of NICs in the state’s Champions of Excellence program.
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Regional Educational Lab (REL) Southwest partners with key stakeholders in Texas 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, institutions of higher education, and student, family, and community organizations. RELs partner with these organizations to conduct applied research and development; training, coaching and technical supports; and disseminate evidence-based pratice.

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Partnerships

Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Middle School Toolkit
Helping Texas state and local education agencies develop a comprehensive toolkit to support grade 6–8 educators and administrators in improving adolescent literacy using evidence-based literacy practices.
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Texas Education Agency Statewide Research Agenda
Helping the Texas Education Agency develop a coherent, sustainable, statewide research agenda that aligns research activities with agency priorities, policy needs, and improvement goals.
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Texas Education Agency Tri-Agency Workforce Priorities
Helping Texas educators provide high-quality advising and counseling that prepares students for postsecondary success and meets the state’s workforce needs.
Read More Texas Education Agency Tri-Agency Workforce Priorities
Southwest School Improvement Research Partnership (Historical)
Like many states, Texas has struggled with how best to build districts’ capacity to support low-performing schools. REL Southwest is working with the Texas Education Agency and other partners to enhance the state’s ability to evaluate and continuously improve school and district practices, with the long-term goal of increasing the number of students attending high-performing schools.
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New Resource to Support Rural School District Leaders in Recruiting and Retaining Tea...

Jun 24, 2026 by REL Southwest
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Embedded associate degrees provide a new pathway to college completion in Texas

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Resource roundup: College and career readiness guidance for families and education le...

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Insights from the field: REL Southwest meets with educators from our states

Sep 04, 2024 by Carol Felicio
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Usability and Feasibility of the Leading Early Childhood Achievement and Development Professional Learning Series in Oklahoma
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