The CNA Corporation

The CNA Corporation (CNAC) is a non-profit organization located in Alexandria, Virginia that has provided high-quality research, analysis and technical assistance to federal, state and local agencies for over 60 years. Committed to serving the public interest, CNAC works with clients to help them solve important public problems and provides creative, high-quality, objective analyses, which can be implemented with confidence. Its research staff of nearly 350, about two-thirds with PhD's, has a wide variety of academic disciplines.

REL Appalachia is placed in CNAC's Institute for Public Research division, which focuses on five key issues in the national arena: health care, education, domestic security and safety, human capital management, and air traffic management.

University of Virginia

The Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) at the University of Virginia is directed by Robert C. Pianta, PhD., Novartis U.S. Foundation Professor of Education in the Curry School of Education. CASTL's mission is to improve the educational outcomes of America's school-age children through the scientific study of teaching, teacher quality, and student classroom learning from preschool through the high school years. CASTL places a particular emphasis on the challenges to successful teaching and learning posed by poverty, social or cultural isolation, or lack of resources in communities under stress. By integrating University initiatives, CASTL is an interdisciplinary mechanism for advancing scientifically based policy and practice in teacher education, student learning, and the quality of classroom teaching, working to ensure that all children in schools and classrooms across the country have access to high-quality teaching and learning experiences.

The collaborative work between CASTL and REL Appalachia involves a long-term randomized control study that evaluates the efficacy of a professional development intervention developed by Dr. Pianta and aimed at improving teachers instructional and social/interactional skills for the purpose of improving student achievement. The intervention is implemented by the CASTL team (Downer and Pianta) and evaluated by a CNAC team (Friedman, Cavalluzzo & Lopez).

Education Innovations

Education Innovations, LLC (EI), based in Memphis, Tennessee, is a firm known for exemplary educational research throughout the nation. EI's conducts scientific research associated with educational policies and practices in pre-K-12 schools, and disseminates research findings that informs education officials at all levels of government. EI works with approximately 2000 schools to evaluate school climate and to evaluate both the implementation progress of new instructional programs and their overall effect on student achievement. Led by Dr. Steven Ross, EI's diverse staff have gained national recognition for their contribution to discussions of issues such as reform of teacher education, educational equity, educational technology, school reform and restructuring, urban and multicultural education, interventions for at-risk students, and using formative evaluation methods for school improvement decision-making.

The EI team is collaborating with REL Appalachia on two of the long-term randomized control studies: an impact evaluation of early literacy programs (Ross and Grehan, EI; and Lopez, CNAC) and a longitudinal study examining whether the use of high-quality online courses coupled with teacher training improves teacher and classroom quality and student outcomes (Cavalluzzo, CNAC and Lowther, EI).

Center for Applied Linguistics

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is a private, nonprofit organization working to improve communication through better understanding of language and culture. CAL is headquartered in Washington, DC. The organization has earned a national and international reputation for its contributions to the fields of bilingual education, English as a second language, literacy, foreign language education, dialect studies, language policy, refugee orientation, and the education of linguistically and culturally diverse adults and children. CAL's experienced staff of researchers and educators conducts research, designs and develops instructional materials and language tests, provides technical assistance and professional development, conducts needs assessments and program evaluations, and disseminates information and resources related to language and culture.

CAL brings its expertise of language and language learning to REL Appalachia's fast response research studies that are addressing the rapidly rising enrollments of English Language Learners in the region. CAL also provides guidance in the planning and development of REL Appalachia projects.

Insight Policy Research

Insight Policy Research, Inc. (Insight), located in Arlington, Virginia, is a national organization specializing in comprehensive, non-partisan, objective, high-quality data driven evaluations of education and health programs and initiatives. Insight has a highly experienced staff that offers the capacity to provide a full range of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analytic services for a wide scope of government, non-profit, and private sector clients. Insight provides expertise in evaluating program effectiveness and preparing policy analyses to assist clients in making decisions about their programs. Insight is a certified woman-owned, small disadvantaged business. Insight will lead the needs assessment for the REL Appalachia project.

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky (UK) is a public, research-extensive, land grant university dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service as well as disseminating and applying knowledge. UK's dual mission as a research extensive land-grant university is reflected in its long-term commitment to improving schooling in the Appalachian Region. The Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership and Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative engage in extensive R&D initiatives within a network of 10 institutions of higher education and 51 school districts in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to improve mathematics and science education and eliminate the achievement gap. The Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute is the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service for Kentucky and is currently providing direct technical assistance to approximately 20 states in the implementation of federal special education legislation. The College of Education is committed to the institution's research mission and improving teaching and helping all children learn. The College is noted for The Commonwealth Center for Instructional Technology and Learning, The National Assistive Technology Research Institute, and The National Center on Education, Disabilities and Juvenile Justice.

UK's applies its rich research background and knowledge of education to REL Appalachia's work in the planning, development, and execution of long-term and fast response studies.

Collaborative for Teaching and Learning

The Collaborative for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is a nonprofit, national educational consulting organization based in Louisville Kentucky. Founded in 1994, the corporation provides customized and targeted consultation and professional development that emphasizes leadership for instructional excellence, literacy within and across all disciplines, and the arts as a strategy to fully engage the whole learner. The CTL approach is firmly grounded in sound educational theory and research, and provides educators with practical tools and strategies to create sustainable capacity. With a professional staff that has extensive experience in education at all levels, the organization is committed to providing high-quality programs that make a difference in the lives of learners.

CTL is a partner with REL Appalachia on one of the multi-year randomized control studies: The Effects of Kentucky Virtual High School's Hybrid Course in Algebra I on Teacher Practices, Classroom Quality, and Adolescent Learning. In addition, CTL staff provides assistance with Needs Assessment, and have proposed several Fast Response Studies for the second year work.

The EdVenture Group

The EdVenture Group is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that creates and delivers client specific solutions through its core services of consulting, curriculum development, professional development/training and technology integration. Headquartered in Morgantown, WV, The EdVenture Group serves customers across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other areas of the East Coast. Based on knowledge and expertise, The EdVenture Group focuses on business and education processes, making them more efficient, more cost effective, and more productive for the customer.

The EdVenture Group plays a multifaceted role within REL Appalachia's work by facilitating dialogue between researchers and stakeholders for the needs assessment and contributing to the planning, design, and implementation of fast response studies.

Tierra Del Oro

Tierra Del Oro (TDO) and its sister non-profit JES & Co., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt educational organization, based in Tucson, Arizona, supports state and local educators to assess needs, synthesize working solutions from available resources, help in enhancing the communication skills among students, schools, parents, and communities, and in managing public, private and corporate funds responsibly to achieve that end. JES & Co. currently administers education programs and consults to departments of education at the federal, state and regional levels through the U.S. on projects that integrate technology with administration, content, and people throughout the curriculum and enterprise. JES & Co. is the co-founder of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, administers the portal for teacher resources called The Gateway to 21st Century Skill, and the National Science Foundation program for the collection and dissemination of state and national standards, The Achievement Standards Network (ASN).

TDO/JES & Co. contributes its resources and knowledge to REL Appalachia activities, particularly in fast response studies and planning future work.