AIR is one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world. REL Southwest has partnered with AIR because of their vast experience in judging the quality of research evidence, their specialized capabilities in special education and high school reform and their ground breaking research in cost analysis.

Founded in 1946 as a nonprofit organization AIR’s work spans a wide range of substantive areas: education, student assessment, international education, individual and organizational performance, health research and communication, human development, usability design and testing, employment equity, and statistical and research methods. The intellectual diversity of our more than 1,100 employees, more than 50 percent of whom hold advanced degrees, enables AIR to bring together experts in many fields, including education, psychology, sociology, economics, psychometrics, statistics, public health, usability engineering, software design, graphics and video communications—all in the search for innovative answers to any challenge.

AIR will be working in conjunction with REL Southwest on the following research studies:

• Review of the Evidence on Professional Development and Student Achievement, http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=70
• Examination of Investment in Professional Development at the District Level, http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=71
• Improving the Comprehension and Vocabulary Skills of ELL’s in Fifth Grade Using Collaborative Strategic Reading,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=78
http://www.air.org

Caliber, an ICF International Company, provides high-quality research and consulting services. The organization is known for their work in partnership with public, private and nonprofit clients to increase their knowledge base, support program development, enhance program operations, evaluate results and create sustainable systems.

Caliber is recognized for its work in education research and offers a natural alliance with REL Southwest. Caliber is dedicated to enhancing the quality of education throughout the United States and offers extensive experience in research and programmatic knowledge in student achievement, math and science education, instructional quality assurance and workforce development.

Caliber, led by a seasoned management team, employs more than 300 employees and is located in Fairfax, VA, near Washington, D.C.

Caliber will be working in conjunction with REL Southwest on the following research studies:

• Improving the Comprehension and Vocabulary Skills of ELL’s in Fifth Grade Using Collaborative Strategic Reading,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=78
http://www.caliber.com/home/

Edvance Research’s work with the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)to run the Regional Educational Laboratory – Southwest presented an opportunity to partner with the RG Research Group, while conducting a rigorous Randomized Control Trial. They will be the primary investigator on the following REL Southwest Study:

• Improving the Comprehension and Vocabulary Skills of ELL’s in Fifth Grade Using Collaborative Strategic Reading,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=78

RG Research Group Inc. is a small, privately owned company that specializes in large-scale program evaluation and large-scale field research. The company also specializes in projects involving professional development, and curriculum development and analysis.
RG Research Group Directors include Dr. Russell Gersten and Dr. Joseph A. Dimino, both nationally recognized researchers with extensive experience in the education industry. Russell Gersten serves as the Research Director for REL Southwest.
http://inresg.org/aboutrg.html

WestEd is a leading research, development and service agency that offers a broad portfolio of nonpartisan, evidence-based solutions. As a nonprofit agency, WestEd work is guided by a mission of promoting excellence and equity in education and improving learning from infancy onward. WestEd has worked with Edvance Research on a number of studies for REL Southwest.

• Alternative Assessment for Special Education Students in the Southwest Region,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=73

• An Examination of the Diagnostic/Formative Assessment Policies and Practices in the Southwest Region,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=74

• La Frontera: A Regional Perspective,
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=75

•  Aligning State Science Assessment Standards and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP):
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=76
(Reports may be accessed by state for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas)

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU enrolls almost 30,000 students, has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges.
REL Southwest is partnering with The Center for the Study of Small/Rural Schools, a cooperative effort between the University of Oklahoma's Colleges of Education and Continuing Education. The expertise provided in this alliance will provide enhance the Regional Educational Laboratory – Southwest) work on research related to rural education issues.

• Definitions of Rural: Implications for Educational Policies and Practices, http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=72

Endorsed by the National Rural Education Association (NREA) as one of its five recognized rural education research centers, the center assists small and rural schools in building and maintaining necessary knowledge bases, founded on state-of-the-art research in the areas of school improvement and reform, restructuring, staff development, administration, and teaching. The center utilizes a multifaceted approach in assisting small and rural schools through workshops, training programs, surveys, needs assessments, and provision of technical assistance and various other services. Its clients include school boards, teachers, administrators, businesses, community groups, rural organizations, state and federal agencies, as well as international agencies and governments.

Various areas addressed by the center include teaching methodology, school improvement issues, at-risk populations, multicultural and equity concerns, administrator preparation, school board training, educational technology, strategies for improving community-school relationships, and community development issues.
http://cssrs.ou.edu/

Founded in 1883, The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is one of the largest and most respected universities in the nation. The Times of London ranked UT second among U.S. public universities in its ranking of the world's top 200 universities. UT is the largest institution of The University of Texas System, and is a major research university home to more than 48,000 students, 2,700 faculty and 19,000 staff members.
Edvance Research is currently engaged with the Instructional Technology department in the College of Education, Curriculum and Instruction for the work under the Regional Educational Laboratory – Southwest.

Edvance Research is aligning with UT to research the application of systematic planning, design, and development of instruction using technological tools to enhance learning. The Instructional Technology Program at UT is a graduate program and offers degrees at the master and doctoral levels. This comprehensive program prepares professionals for various positions in education and industry. This program allows students to acquire knowledge and skills in the areas of instructional systems design, learning and instructional theories, and development of Web-based and interactive multimedia learning environments using various state-of-art technology-based systems

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/CI/IT/index.php