Discusses historical and current federal role in educational research and development; asserts need for improved quality and expanded scope of research from Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Describes shortcomings and desired changes; advocates creation of independent R&D agency and open competition for…

This document presents findings of a study that examined the operations and effects of selected activities of the regional educational laboratory program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. The 10 laboratories that receive OERI support conduct applied research and development and provide…

Purposes and functions of regional research and development (R&D) services sponsored by the National Institute of Education (NIE) are described, based on a task force's assessment of R&D services provided by regional laboratories. The historical context of the following questions are addressed: whether the conduct of R&D constitutes a…

Commencing as a reasonably funded research and development enterprise, the Regional Educational Laboratory Program has become an undercapitalized knowledge transfer operation, an "information utility," responsible for improving schools but constrained by inadequate funds and restrictive policies which confine the labs to working…

Despite the need for more and better research on rural education, recent federal policy trends favoring broadly applicable, "problem-centered" research threaten to abandon responsibility for "targeted" populations to the agendas of private and state-based organizations. Rural research funding is discussed in relation to the…

This document reports on the 1987 external review of the nine Regional Educational Laboratories which evaluated lab performance during the first 18-20 months of their contracts and evaluated their plans for the remaining 3 years of the contracts. Observations about lab plans are presented on a program-wide basis. It is reported that the 3-5 year…

As a background for recommendations made in this paper on the program of regional educational laboratories, three contextual facts are highlighted. The first is the increasingly prominent role and responsibility of the individual states in the definition and delivery of elementary/secondary education. The second is that, while historically public…

A needs sensing confirmation study was conducted to identify the Appalachia Educational Laboratory's (AEL) long term research and development program needs and provide guidelines for its seven member states' activities. The AEL Board of Directors, individuals serving in similar positions as the Board members, and a sample of non-public school…

This report addresses what the Laboratory Review Panel believes to be the most critical issues the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) must consider in the 1990 recompetition for Educational Research Laboratories. For each set of issues, recommendations are offered regarding desirable OERI policy. The following issues and panel…

The effectiveness of four technical assistance-oriented services/products of one regional educational laboratory was studied. The services/products studied included a thinking skills activities workbook for classroom teachers, a videotape for rural educators on exemplary software for developing the thinking skills of at-risk students, a research…

This document provides an overview of the Regional Educational Laboratory operated by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) during 1986-1990. AEL staff works with educators in ongoing research and development-based efforts to improve education and educational opportunity in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Part I of the…

This needs assessment identified six educational needs and issues of schools in the Northwest region, prioritized Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) areas of emphasis, evaluated research/development strategies to address these needs and priorities, and applied assessment results to NWREL program planning activities. Assessment…