The National Center on Dispute Resolution (CADRE) serves as the National Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education on behalf of the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. CADRE works to increase the nation’s capacity to prevent and resolve special education and early intervention disputes by fostering productive home/school/provider partnerships and the use of collaborative processes to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities. CADRE assists states with implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) procedural safeguards provisions and the development of high-performing dispute resolution systems through the identification and dissemination of exemplary practices related to program design, implementation, evaluation and improvement.
Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)
Specialty Area
- Alternative Dispute Resolutions
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- Families
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Other Services Provided: Communication; relationship building workshops; and trainings; Systems analysis and improvement
Other Specialty Areas: Dispute Resolution; Conflict Prevention
Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy Center)
The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy Center) is a national technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). DaSy Center works with states to support IDEA early intervention and early childhood special education state programs in the development or enhancement of coordinated early childhood longitudinal data systems.
DaSy Canter provides technical assistance (TA) and resources to state agencies to assist with the development or enhancement of data systems for Part C early intervention and Part B preschool special education programs supported through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The DaSy Center collaborates with other projects to leverage what is known and generate new ideas and products to help state agencies create and expand early childhood cross-agency and longitudinal data systems that include the Part C and Part B preschool data needed to collect, analyze, and report high-quality data required under IDEA. We offer a range of supports based on our clients needs including intensive and targeted TA as well as opportunities to join DaSy Center led communities of practice or attend webinars.
Specialty Area
- Data Systems
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Measuring Student Growth
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Organizational Leadership
- Part B – 619
- Part C
- Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)
- Response to Intervention
- Social and Emotional Learning
- System Alignment
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- Families
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
Tiered, UniversalAdditional Information
Other Services Provided: National Technical Assistance (TA)
Other Specialty Areas: IDEA Part C Data Systems; IDEA Part B-619 Data Systems
Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS Center)
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) supports schools, districts, and states to build systems capacity for implementing a multi-tiered approach to social, emotional and behavior support. The broad purpose of PBIS is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of schools and other agencies. PBIS improves social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.
Specialty Area
- Education Leadership
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Intensive Supports
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Organizational Leadership
- Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)
- Response to Intervention
- School Climate & Behavior
- School Mental Health
- Social and Emotional Learning
- Special Education
- System Alignment
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- Families
- School Counselors
- School Districts
- Schools
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Research
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
GeneralAdditional Information
Other Specialty Areas: Implementation Science; Prevention Science
National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)
The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to improve state and local capacity to implement, scale-up, and sustain effective practices and policies to equitably support the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children with, and at risk for, developmental delays or disabilities. The goal of the Center is assisting states and programs in developing sustainable systems for the equitable implementation of the Pyramid Model for Promoting Social-Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs. We do this with a focus on: improving the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five; eliminating the use of inappropriate and disproportionate exclusionary discipline practices; promoting family engagement; using data for decision-making; increasing the use of trauma-informed and culturally and linguistically responsive practices; and fostering inclusion.
Specialty Area
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Intensive Supports
- Social and Emotional Learning
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- Schools
- Teachers
Services
- Content Expertise
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TargetedAdditional Information
National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning
The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning (AEM Center) at CAST is a knowledge-development, information dissemination, and technical assistance project whose activities and actions are designed to:
- Expand and disseminate knowledge about Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and technologies among key stakeholder groups.
- Increase AEM Center stakeholders’ skills; and motivation.
- Improve and enhance the organizational, material and structural capacities of AEM stakeholders so that they effectively use AEM resources.
The overall goal established by CAST and OSEP pertains to improvements in the availability and use of accessible educational materials and technologies for learning.
Specialty Area
- Accessible Education Materials
- Equity
- Family Engagement
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Response to Intervention
- Transitions (from grade to grade)
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- Families
- School Counselors
- School Districts
- Schools
- State Education Agencies
- Teachers
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
Regions/States
NationalAlaska, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio, Texas
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
Other Primary Audiences: Higher Education; Workforce Development; Publishers; EdTech Developers
Technical Assistance and Training
Other Specialty Areas: Access to AEM and assistive technology; Policy
National Center on Educational Outcomes
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) helps students with disabilities, English learners (ELs), and ELs with disabilities by:
- Collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, disseminating, and providing leadership on evidence-based information on inclusive assessments and comprehensive assessment systems.
- Promoting the use of assessments for instructional decision-making purposes.
- Assisting states in their efforts to support districts to improve results.
- Reviewing the participation and performance of students in national and state assessments, including the use of accessibility features and accommodations and alternate assessments.
- Examining national and state practices in reporting assessment information.
- Supporting implementation of U.S. Department of Education accountability systems, including ESEA accountability and IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plans (SSIPs) and State-Identified Measurable Results (SIMRs).
- Bridging general education, special education, English as a Second Language or bilingual education, and other systems as they work to improve results of education for all students.
Specialty Area
- English Language Learners
- Measuring Student Growth
Primary Audience
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Research
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Other Services Provided: Technical assistance on assessment related topics
Other Specialty Areas: Assessment; Accountability; Accessibility and Accommodations; Alternative Assessments
National Center on Systemic Improvement (NCSI)
The National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) helps states transform their systems to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. NCSI provides states with technical assistance to support development, implementation and evaluation of their 6-year state systemic improvement plan and build capacity among their school districts and local early intervention service programs to improve educational results and functional outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.
Specialty Area
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Measuring Student Growth
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Response to Intervention
- Social and Emotional Learning
- System Alignment
- Transforming State Systems
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- Schools
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Other Specialty Areas: Systems Change; Students with Disabilities
National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes
The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) provides evidence-based strategies to deaf individuals, family members, and professionals at the local, state, and national levels with the goal of closing education and employment gaps for deaf individuals.
Specialty Area
- Educator Preparation
- Equity
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Transitions (from grade to grade)
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- State Education Agencies
- Teachers
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Other Primary Audiences: Service Providers; Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies; Individuals; and Community Organizations
Other Specialty Areas: Deaf; Technology; System change
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C)
The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) is a Technical Assistance Center co-funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). They provide information, tools, and supports to assist multiple stakeholders in delivering effective services and instruction for secondary students and out of school youth with disabilities.
Specialty Area
- 21st Century Skills
- Career and Technical Education
- Education Leadership
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Organizational Leadership
- School Climate & Behavior
- School Mental Health
- Secondary Transition
- Special Education
- Transitions (from grade to grade)
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- Families
- School Counselors
- State Education Agencies
- Teachers
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Other Primary Audiences: State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies; Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors; Secondary Students with Disabilities
Other Specialty Areas: Transition to post-school environments; Data Analysis and Use
PROGRESS Center
PROGRESS Center (which stands for Promoting Rigorous Outcomes and Growth by Redesigning Educational Services for Students With Disabilities Center) provides information, resources, tools, and technical assistance services to support local educators and leaders (kindergarten through transition age) in developing and implementing high-quality educational programs that ensure students with disabilities have access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) which allows them to make progress and meet challenging goals, consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017).
Specialty Area
- English Language Learners
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- High-Quality Educational Programming
- Intensive Supports
- Measuring Student Growth
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Response to Intervention
- Special Education
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- Schools
- State Education Agencies
- Teachers
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Private and charter school associations and entities
Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic
The Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic (REL Mid-Atlantic) is one of 10 research centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to partner with stakeholders in using evidence to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership. REL Mid-Atlantic translates research to practice in partnership with policymakers and practitioners in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Based on regional needs they provide training, coaching, and technical support to help apply high-quality evidence to education improvement initiatives. The lab also conducts, applies, and disseminates research and research-based technical assistance in collaboration with stakeholders in the region to promote continuous improvement of educational practice.
Based on the input from the region the work takes many forms:
- Partnerships and alliances are formed and evolve
- Conduct research studies to answer pressing questions for stakeholders in the region
- Publications are released based on research studies conducted
- Coaching and technical support workshops are collaborative activities conducted with stakeholders
- Events are designed and supported to meet the needs of the region
- Tools are developed through the work with stakeholders
- Ask A REL responses are provided to inquiries from the region
Specialty Area
- Alternative Routes to Certification
- Career and Technical Education
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- Equity
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Measuring Student Growth
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support
- Organizational Leadership
- School Climate & Behavior
- Social and Emotional Learning
- Teacher Mentoring and Induction
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NortheastDelaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
No additional information provided
Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest
Regional Educational Lab (REL) Midwest partners with key stakeholders in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin 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.
Specialty Area
- 21st Century Skills
- Alternative Routes to Certification
- Career and Technical Education
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Equity
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Organizational Leadership
- School Climate & Behavior
- Social and Emotional Learning
- System Alignment
- Teacher Mentoring and Induction
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
MidwestIllinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
Other Specialty Areas: Educational Technology
Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific
The Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Pacific translates research to practice in partnership with policymakers and practitioners in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Specialty Area
- Career and Technical Education
- Cross-Disciplinary Competencies
- Early Childhood Educators
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Family Engagement
- Organizational Leadership
- Social and Emotional Learning
- System Alignment
- Teacher Mentoring and Induction
- Transitions (from grade to grade)
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
Pacific IslandsAmerican Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
Other Specialty Areas: College readiness; Developmental education; Culturally responsive education
Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands
Regional Educational Lab (REL) Northeast & Islands partners with key stakeholders in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virgin Islands 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.
Specialty Area
- 21st Century Skills
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- English Language Learners
- Response to Intervention
- School Climate & Behavior
- Social and Emotional Learning
- Teacher Mentoring and Induction
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NortheastConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
No additional information provided
Regional Educational Laboratory West
Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) West serves four states: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. To address the priorities and interests in these states, REL West works in partnership with school districts, state departments of education, and others to use data and research to improve academic outcomes for students. Each partnership focuses on one or more of the following four regional priority topics: educator development, early learning, postsecondary pathways, and support of the whole child.
While schools, districts, state and local support agencies, and other education stakeholders in REL West’s four-state region share many priorities, their specific challenges and needs for research and support can vary. Accordingly, REL West engages in systematic, ongoing assessment of regional education needs to determine how best to target research and provide research-based information, analysis, and analytic support.
REL West's needs-sensing approaches include:
• Actively soliciting input from state and local decisionmakers.
• Analyzing data and policy trends.
• Examining educator and policymaker requests for assistance.
• Collaborating with regional Comprehensive Centers.
• Working with our partners to determine unmet needs.
In response to the diverse needs and priorities of our nine partnerships, REL West engages in a broad range of work. Through in-depth training, coaching, and analytic support, we build the capacity of our partners to address a variety of issues. These include: tackling the complexities of cross-sector data sharing and data use; learning to make evidence-based policy and practice decisions; and addressing challenges that are context- and region-specific, including those unique to rural entities. In addition, REL West conducts applied research that is integrated with the training, coaching, and analytic support we conduct with our partners.
Specialty Area
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- English Language Learners
- P-3 Systems (Prenatal to Grade 3)
- School Climate & Behavior
- Social and Emotional Learning
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
No additional information provided
Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest
The Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest (REL Northwest) is operated by Education Northwest in Portland, Oregon. REL Northwest focuses on building the capacity of stakeholders in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to use data and evidence to inform decisions related to their specific education-related needs.
REL Northwest's services include the provision of training, coaching, and technical support; conducting applied research studies; and disseminating information in various content areas, but particularly in five high-leverage areas of need in the region: equitable start in learning, appropriate supports for English learners, high school graduation and post-secondary education success, supply and development of effective educators, and accountability system design and implementation.
The majority of our work is currently conducted with stakeholders in 12 research partnerships throughout the region. However, REL Northwest also conducts work with stakeholders that are not affiliated with a particular research partnership.
Specialty Area
- Alternative Routes to Certification
- Career and Technical Education
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Education Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- English Language Learners
- Equity
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Organizational Leadership
- P-3 Systems (Prenatal to Grade 3)
- Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)
- School Climate & Behavior
- School Mental Health
- Social and Emotional Learning
- System Alignment
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NorthwestAlaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
Other Services Provided: Dissemination of tools and research
Other Specialty Areas: STEM
Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest
Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest (REL Southwest) provides research, technical support, and dissemination activities to State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in our region to improve the use of data and research evidence to inform practice and policy decisions.
Specialty Area
- Career and Technical Education
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leadership
- Educator Effectiveness
- Educator Preparation
- Educator Retention
- English Language Learners
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
Primary Audience
- Administrators
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Assessment Tools
- Coaching
- Content Expertise
- Convening Stakeholders
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
SouthwestArkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Level of Support
IntensiveAdditional Information
Other Specialty Areas: College and Career Readiness; Teacher Preparation and Professional Development; Early Childhood Education; Networked Improvement Communities; and School Improvement
State Support Network
The State Support Network was a technical assistance initiative operating from 2016 to 2020 designed to support state and district school improvement efforts. Use this site to learn more about State Support Network communities of practice and to access free resources for states and district to support school improvement.
Specialty Area
- Education Leadership
- English Language Learners
- Evidence Based Practices & Scaling Up
- Measuring Student Growth
- System Alignment
Primary Audience
- School Districts
- State Education Agencies
Services
- Consulting
- Content Expertise
- Facilitation
- Research
Regions/States
NationalAll States
Level of Support
TieredAdditional Information
Technical Assistance Providers
Communities of Practice
Implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act; Needs Assessments; Strategic Planning