"OTHER FUNCTION" THE EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM ACT (ESRA) MANDATES THAT THE DEPARTMENT AWARD AND ADMINISTER TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS). ESRA DEFINES THE TERM OF EACH REL, FIVE YEARS, AND THE CURRENT COHORT OF REL CONTRACTS EXPIRES JANUARY 2, 2017. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR REL MIDWEST. EACH REL IS CHARGED WITH PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING THREE PRIMARY TASKS APPLIED RESEARCH WHERE EACH REL WILL ADDRESSES COMPLEX QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING, LEARNING, ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS AND SYSTEMS, EDUCATION ACCESS, AND EDUCATION ATTAINMENT. TRAINING, COACHING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WHERE EACH REL WILL DESIGN THESE SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS, AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE EDUCATION RESEARCH SECTOR. THE CONTENT OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED WITHIN THIS AREA OF WORK MUST BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED AGAINST THE RESEARCH BASE. DISSEMINATION WHERE REL DISSEMINATION FACILITATES THE WIDE SHARING OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH-RELATED INFORMATION TO SPARK NEW IDEAS, INTRODUCE INDIVIDUALS TO OTHERS WORKING ON SIMILAR ISSUES, AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION. EACH TASK BUILDS ON THE OTHER, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL REL CONTRIBUTES TO AN OVERALL INCREASE IN EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES.
Posted 12/20/16, 12:00 AM