The PennsylvaniaState University (PSU) Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Center for Effective School Practices (CESP)

Caliber, an ICFInternational Company

Metiri Group

ANALYTICA

Regional Educational Laboratory

REL Mid-Atlantic: Linking Research to Policy and Practice

Dr. Tom Fortin, PA Lab Extension Specialist

Dr. Al Glennon, PA Lab Extension Specialist

Session Goal-Matching• List 3 goals that you have for this

session• Prioritize the goals, with “1” being the

“Most Important”

• Briefly Discuss your goals with your neighbor(s)

• Report “Common Goals” and any “Most Important”

Our Goals• Session Attendees will have a good

understanding of the following:

1. What the Labs can do2. How Regional Assistance works

• Who to contact, how, when and why

3. Partnership opportunities for research dissemination• Bringing research findings home

Session Outline• REL Mid-Atlantic Overview• Regional Need Sensing• Regional Assistance

• REL Reference Desk• “Fast Response” Applied R & D• Rigorous Research Studies• Research Dissemination

• Summary

Federal Network of Assistance Providers

5 EDContent CentersResearch

SEAsLEAs

15 EDComprehensive

CentersTechnical Assistance10 Regional

Education Laboratories (Research)

REL Mid-Atlantic Overview

• One of Ten Federally- • Delaware, Maryland, • Promotes “Scientificall

Rese(ESEA2002)

Who Administers REL Mid-Atlantic?

• The Pennsylvania State University

• Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

• ICF International

• Metiri Group

• ANALYTICA

What Does REL Mid-Atlantic Do?

• Regional Need Sensing• Everything is based on regional need

• Regional Assistance• Fast Response” R & D Projects • REL Reference Desk• REL Lookup“• “Ask a REL“

• Rigorous Research Studies• e.g. Randomized Control Trials

• Dissemination

Identify Regional Needs

Need Sensing

Data

News & Scholarly Articles

Requests for Assistance Local and

State Meetings

Lab Governing Board

Regional Education Specialists (RES)

Laboratory Education Specialists (LES)

Possible Responses

Need Sensing Data

“Fast Response” Research Project

Reference Desk

Response

Rigorous Research Project

Regional Dissemination

Forum

Regional AssistanceRequests come to the lab through several channels:

• Via Toll-Free Call to 1-866-RELMA-FYI• Via email to info@relmid-atlantic.org• Via the Internet at

http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/midatlantic/• Via “Ask A REL” • Via Laboratory Extension Specialist (LES)

• Vito Forlenza, East• Al Glennon, South Central• John Seymour, Southwest• Jim Davis, North Central• Tom Fortin, Northwest

Possible Responses to Requests

1. REL Reference Desk2. Refer for “Fast Response”3. Refer for Rigorous Study

Resources for REL Reference Desk

• Archive of Lab Responses• Organization Database• National Library of Education Resources• What Works Clearinghouse• ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)• Other Labs, Internal Experts, and Federally-Funded

Centers

IES Standards of Evidence

Used in WWC Practice Guides• Strong

• Multiple RCTs, Single Multi-Site RCT, Systematic Review, No Contrary Findings

• Moderate• Experiment or Quasi-Experiment, Comparison

study with internal validity, Correlational Research with good controls

• Low• Expert Opinion

REL Reference Desk• Limited to “Scientifically Valid”

findings

What does the research say about….-Professional Development?-Response to Intervention?-English Language Learners?-Everyday Math?

“Fast Response” R & D Projects

• Need-Based• Completed in Less than One Year• Tend to Use Existing Data

• Written Products, Educational Events, Other Media

Completed “Fast Response” R & D Projects• Predictive Validity of Benchmark Assessments• Students with Disabilities and AYP in Mid-

Atlantic Region Schools• NCLB Subgroups and AYP in Mid-Atlantic

Region Schools

32 others at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/index.asp

“Fast Response” R & D Projects In Progress

“Schools Like Mine” Online Performance Comparison Tool

• Response to Intervention (RTI)• Literature Review

• Curriculum Mapping

Educational Events• ELL Practice Guide Forum,

November 17th, Mechanicsburg

• Adolescent Literacy Practice Guide Forum, January 14th, Rutgers

• ELL Practice Guide Forum, February 27th, NEIU 19, Scranton

Topics Under Consideration

• Concept Clarification and Product Conceptualization

• Getting from Topic to Useful Product

Rigorous Research Studies

• Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT)• Need-Driven Topics

• National Considerations

Intervention Grade Content Area Duration

Odyssey Math/Compass

Learning4th Grade Mathematics 2007-2008

Connected Math 2 6th Grade Mathematics 2008-2010

Research Dissemination• Written Reports

• “Issues and Answers”• Technical Briefs• RCT Reports

• Both Technical and Plain Language

• Available Online and Electronically By Request

• Notice of New Products• Via LISTSERV and Mailing List

Research Dissemination• Dissemination Forums

• REL Mid-Atlantic “partners” with regional and local entities

• Provide speakers, organization, and logistics• Various formats and solutions possible

• Contact your Laboratory Extension Specialist or State Coordinator to Discuss Options

Research Dissemination• Identify and Use Effective

Teaching Practices.

• IES “Doing What Works” Websitehttp://www.dww.ed.gov/

• Research-based Practice Guides

Summary• What the Lab Can Do

• How Regional Assistance Works• Who to contact, how, when and why

• Partnership Opportunities for Research Dissemination• Bringing Research Findings Home

Summary• Review of Your Goals

• Review of Your Questions

• REL Mid-Atlantic LISTSERV

Lab Contacts• Call 1-866-RELMAFYI

• Email info@relmid-atlantic.org

• Web http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/midatlantic/

• PA State CoordinatorVito Forlenzavforlenza@relmid-atlantic.org