Recommended Resources
If your question falls outside of the scope of REL West's charge or expertise, we can connect you with relevant research, resources, and assistance providers. You may also want to directly access the following federally funded research and technical assistance providers.
RESEARCH TOOLS & RESOURCES
- Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
The IES mission is to provide rigorous and relevant evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and share this information broadly. By identifying what works, what doesn't, and why, IES aims to improve educational outcomes for all students, particularly those at risk of failure. IES is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, and by law their activities must be free of partisan political influence. IES funds and oversees the Regional Educational Laboratories. The IES Publications & Products Search tool connects all IES centers and programs. - Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program
The Regional Educational Laboratory Program consists of a network of 10 laboratories, with each REL serving the educational needs of a designated region by providing access to high-quality, scientifically valid education research through applied research and development projects, studies, and other related technical assistance activities. - What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)
An initiative of IES, WWC is a source of scientific evidence for what works in education. Resources include user-friendly practice guides for school and district staff; intervention reports summarizing the most reliable research on a particular program, practice, or policy; and topical evidence reviews. - Doing What Works (DWW)
Doing What Works (DWW), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, translates research-based practices (many from the What Works Clearinghouse) into practical tools to improve classroom instruction. - National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. The website provides public access to searchable datasets and reports on a wide variety of education topics. - National Education Research and Development Centers
These R&D Centers (funded through IES's National Center for Education Research) develop, test, and disseminate new approaches to improving teaching and learning, and ultimately, student achievement. Each of the Centers conducts a focused program of education research in its topic area. Currently, there are 18 National R&D Centers. - Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
This searchable database, sponsored by ED and IES, is the world's largest free online library of education research and information.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
- The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) administers the Comprehensive Center (CC) Program. The current 5-year grant cycle runs from 2012 to 2017. The CC Network consists of 15 Regional Centers and 7 Content Centers, which provide technical assistance and information to state departments of education to increase their capacity to support schools and districts and address program implementation needs.
Two Regional Centers serve the REL West region (and are also both managed by WestEd):
- California Comprehensive Center
- West Regional Comprehensive Center [previously the Southwest Comprehensive Center]
- Equity Assistance Centers
The 10 Equity Assistance Centers (EAC) are funded by the U.S. Department of Education under Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They provide assistance in the areas of race, gender, and national origin equity to public school districts to promote equal educational opportunities. There are two centers serving the REL West region: - Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network
The “TA&D Network” consists of approximately 45 centers, funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These projects provide information and technical assistance to states, schools, educational professionals, and families on topics such as autism, deafness, disproportional representation, dispute resolution, learning disabilities, parenting children with special needs, positive behavior support, and transition.
STATE RESOURCES
ARIZONA
- Arizona Department of Education (ADE)
- Arizona State Board of Education
- Arizona State Legislature
- Official Website for the State of Arizona
CALIFORNIA
- California Department of Education (CDE)
- California State Board of Education
- California State Legislature
- Official Website for the State of California
NEVADA
- Nevada Department of Education (NDE)
- Nevada State Board of Education
- Nevada State Legislature
- Official Website for the State of Nevada