Database of Federally Funded Technical Assistance and Research Centers

ICF operates the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center (ARCC), providing technical assistance (TA) to state education agencies (SEAs) in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. As one of 15 regional Comprehensive Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the ARCC at ICF facilitates collaborative projects with SEAs in the region to build their capacity to implement the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (reauthorized in 2015 as the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA), undertake large-scale change, and support district and school efforts to improve outcomes for students, narrow achievement gaps between student subgroups, and improve instructional quality.

The core objective of the ARCC is to provide high-quality, relevant, and useful TA that enhances specific SEA capacities in the Appalachia region to:

1. Undertake state education reforms successfully
2. Support district implementation of reforms
3. Maintain effectiveness once our services are complete

The Building State Capacity and Productivity Center (BSCP Center) is one of seven national content centers supported under the U.S. Department of Education’s Comprehensive Centers program. The BSCP Center focuses on providing assistance to the 15 Regional Comprehensive Centers (RCCs) and state education agencies (SEAs) throughout the country to meet the daunting challenge of improving student performance with diminishing financial resources.  The BSCP Center provides technical assistance to SEAs that builds their capacity to support local educational agencies (LEAs or districts) and schools, by providing high quality information, tools, and implementation support to help them shift from a “compliance-based” to a “performance-oriented” approach.  The partners in the BSCP Center are Edvance Research, Inc., the Academic Development Institute, and the Edunomics Lab (Georgetown University).

California Comprehensive Center is to provide the California Department of Education (CDE) with high-quality, relevant, and useful information, resources, tools, and consultative expertise so that it can lead and sustain state-level initiatives that result in improved outcomes for students.

The primary outcomes include increased capacity for the CDE to:

• Set and support rigorous expectations for each student’s high-quality schooling
• Identify and share evidence-based and promising practices
• Support high-quality local implementation of strategies for continuous improvement

The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) is a national technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). DaSy 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 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 led communities of practice or attend webinars. 

The Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR) at WestEd provides technical assistance to state educational agencies (SEAs) to help them meet their federal obligation to collect and report special education fiscal data. The specific reporting requirements supported by CIFR are:

• Maintenance of state financial support (MFS)
• Allocation of IDEA Part B subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs)
• LEA maintenance of effort (MOE)
• Coordinated early intervening services (CEIS)

The Center for the Integration of IDEA Data (CIID) provides technical assistance to state education agencies (SEAs) to increase the capacity to report high quality data required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Sections 616 and 618. CIID supports the integration of IDEA data systems and processes with the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS).

The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) will strengthen the capacity of State Education Agencies (SEAs) to lead sustained improvements in early learning opportunities and outcomes. CEELO will work in partnership with SEAs, state and local early childhood leaders, and other federal and national technical assistance (TA) providers to promote innovation and accountability.

Based on the priorities established by the U.S. Department of Education, CEELO staff, partners, and experts will work with SEAs and other decision-makers to achieve the following goals:

1. Improve states’ knowledge about and use of early childhood comprehensive assessment systems
2. Enhance the use of assessment data and other information to improve program quality
3. Increase the knowledge and skills of the early learning workforce
4. Strengthen the alignment of birth through 3rd grade educational policies and systems
5. Increase the coordination of resources and policies across statewide systems

The Center on Great Teachers and Leaders (GTL Center) is part of the comprehensive center network and is designed  to consult national, regional, and state partners to build carefully designed, intensive state and local projects that can move the needle on improving equitable access to effective educators. Our TA approach is designed to help states and districts identify, tailor, and implement evidence-based strategies to establish an aligned talent management system that attracts, supports, and retains a diverse, effective, and talented workforce of educators for the students who need them the most.

Each project addresses a strategy and describes:

• The best practices that support the implementation of the strategy
• The empirical studies and evidence that demonstrate the effects of the strategy on the outcomes of teachers and students

The GTL Center projects include multi-year, multi-state initiatives that include district teams as well as shorter, more targeted work with a single state and districts.

The Center on Innovations in Learning is one of seven national content centers funded by the United States Department of Education. The Center on Innovations in Learning’s mission is to (a) increase the capacity of state education agencies (SEAs) to stimulate, select, implement, and scale up learning innovations in local education agencies (LEAs) and schools to improve learning outcomes for all students; and (b) increase the capacity of regional comprehensive centers (RCCs) to provide technical assistance to SEAs relative to the Center’s scope of responsibility.

CIL focuses on Personalized Learning, and Innovative Practices, creating tools, research-based products, and provides hands-on technical assistance.

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.

The Center on School Turnaround (CST) at WestEd provides technical assistance to increase the capacity of state education agencies (SEAs) to support districts in turning around their lowest-performing schools. We work with SEAs, local education agencies (LEAs), and Regional Comprehensive Centers to identify, adopt, and sustain research-based practices and emerging promising practices that ensure equity and drive system change to rapidly improve the lowest-performing schools.

The Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI) provides state education agencies (SEAs) and Regional Comprehensive Centers (RCCs) with research support, technical assistance, tools, and other resources to help inform decisions about standards, assessment, and accountability.

CSAI is committed to:

1. Improving state policies, practices, and supports to districts for the implementation of rigorous college and career readiness standards and assessments.
2. Increasing the capacity of the RCCs to meet the technical assistance and implementation needs of states around standards, assessment, and accountability.
3. Capitalizing on available technology and media to promote engagement, effectiveness, and efficiency in the application of research and resources to expand the reach of CSAI.
4. Continuously improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of CSAI to support the long-term sustainability of educational reform efforts across states and districts.

The Central Comprehensive Center (C3) at the University of Oklahoma Outreach uses its High Impact Technical Assistance (HI-TA) Model to provide high quality technical assistance to Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.  C3’s support focuses on key initiatives, aligns with the Content Centers, and builds the capacity of state education agencies to implement, scale-up, sustain key initiatives to lead and support their local education agencies in comprehensive educational reform to improve student outcomes.  

The HI-TA Model focuses on four critical roles:

1. Building relationships and systems across organizations
2. Facilitating critical thinking and problem solving
3. Providing technical assistance based on best practices and evidence-based decision making
4. Delivering information in response to priority needs  

The HI-TA Model incorporates capacity building elements to increase human, organization, structural, material, and political capacity resulting in positive high impact outcomes.

The Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform Center (CEEDAR) is designed to help State Education Agencies (SEAs), Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) create aligned professional learning systems that provide teachers and leaders effective opportunities to learn how to improve core and specialized instruction in inclusive settings that enable students with disabilities to achieve college and career ready standards. The technical assistance (TA) effort is organized around universal, targeted, and intensive TA supports. AIR, as subcontractor to University of Florida, is taking the lead in intensive TA.

The Center provides intensive TA supports to 20 states. Intensive TA services, tailored to the needs of each state, seek to reform and align the areas of licensure standards, teacher and leader preparation and induction, and personnel evaluation data systems to inform preparation program improvement. CEEDAR provides responsive technical assistance through knowledge building of evidence-based research and practice. CEEDAR also supports implementation of the research into school-based instruction and practices through online tools and resources, leadership development, collaborative teams of stakeholders, and ongoing learning opportunities.

The College and Career Readiness and Success Center (CCRS Center) is dedicated to ensuring all students graduate high school ready for college and career success. The mission of the CCRS Center is to serve Regional Comprehensive Centers in building the capacity of states to effectively implement initiatives for college and career readiness and success. Through technical assistance delivery and supporting resources, the CCRS Center provides customized support that facilitates the continuous design, implementation, and improvement of college and career readiness priorities.

The Florida and the Islands Comprehensive Center @ ETS (FLICC - also also referred to as the Center) serves the state of Florida and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is located in Tampa, Florida.

The Center provides technical assistance to state educational agencies (SEAs) that builds their capacity to:

1. Support local educational agencies (LEAs or districts) and schools, especially low-performing districts and schools 
2. Improve educational outcomes for all students  
3. Close achievement gaps 
4. Improve the quality of instruction

The Center provides high-quality technical assistance that focuses on key initiatives, aligns with the work of the Content Centers, and builds the capacity of SEAs to implement, support, scale up and sustain initiatives statewide. Additionally, it builds the capacity of SEAs to lead and support their LEAs and schools in improving student outcomes. The Center provides training and technical assistance in the implementation and administration of programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and in the use of research-based information and strategies.

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center provides high-quality technical assistance to the state education agencies in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This assistance is tailored to each state’s individual needs and addresses the priorities of the U.S. Department of Education. The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center is one of the 15 regional comprehensive centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and its work is administered by AIR, helping State Education Agencies to lead and support their districts and school in improving student outcomes while working closely with other technical assistance providers, regional comprehensive centers, national content centers, and the regional educational laboratories.

IDEA Data Center (IDC) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to provide technical assistance to build capacity within states for collecting, reporting, analyzing, and using high-quality IDEA data. IDC focuses on data requirements under Sections 616 and 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including data focused on programs for infants, toddlers, and their families (Part C) and on programs serving children ages 3 through 21 (Part B). Building capacity for high-quality IDEA data will affect states, school districts, and local early intervention programs across the nation. Those entities will, in turn, apply the higher quality data they generate to improve outcomes for all children and youth served under IDEA.

The IRIS Center is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities, by developing free, online resources about effective evidence-based practices and interventions.

IRIS Modules, our center's signature resource, are developed using adult learning theory and translate the latest research findings into easily understandable, practitioner-friendly language in an interactive, engaging format. Other wraparound resources--case studies, information briefs, fundamental skill sheets, video vignettes--allow learners to delve into module topics in more depth.

The Mid-Atlantic Comprehensive Center at WestEd (MACC) provides support for and assistance with key education initiatives to state education agencies (SEAs) in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 

As a regional comprehensive center, the MACC works closely with SEAs in the Mid-Atlantic region to:  

• Establish and support the administration of programs related to federal requirements of the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA). 
• Strengthen SEA organizational capacity to implement, support, scale up, and sustain statewide initiatives.
• Build SEA leadership capacity to lead and support their LEAs and schools in improving student outcomes. 
• Assist SEA leadership in utilizing research-based information and strategies in education reform work.

The Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center is one of four regional Equity Assistance Centers. This center is funded by the United States Department of Education under Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The center provides technical assistance and training, upon request, in the areas of race, sex, national origin and religion to public school districts and other responsible governmental agencies to promote equitable education opportunities. Work focuses on the areas of civil rights, equity, and school reform.

The Midwest Comprehensive Center (MWCC) at American Institutes for Research (AIR), funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant since October 2012, provides technical assistance for the state education agencies (SEAs) of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. MWCC services focus on building capacity and providing support for SEAs, districts, and schools to improve student outcomes. MWCC is experienced in engaging stakeholders in policy design and implementation, providing research and content expertise, and planning for high-quality implementation and sustainability.

Technical Assistance Aligned With Federal Priorities
Technical assistance is tailored to each state’s individual needs while aligning with U.S. Department of Education priorities. MWCC staff and regional SEA leaders work together to develop an annual scope of work that also aligns with U.S. Department of Education priorities.

MWCC collaborates with the network of federal technical assistance providers—seven national content centers and the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest—to connect state education agencies with current research and high-quality resources.

Stakeholder Engagement
MWCC provides expertise in bringing together internal and external stakeholders to offer input on policy design and implementation. MWCC facilitates groups of diverse stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes and synthesizes stakeholder input into clear and actionable recommendations. MWCC has helped state education agencies convene task forces, advisory groups, and cross-division teams in a number of content areas.

Research and Content Expertise
MWCC offers expertise in identifying and compiling relevant data and information, and in translating complex information into accessible resources. MWCC’s expertise in using evidence and research to inform decision making and deep content knowledge enables MWCC to provide strategic guidance in the development of initiatives.

Implementation and Sustainability
MWCC supports initiative and policy implementation by developing a course of action. MWCC leads processes to help state education agencies, districts, and schools undertake specific tasks and achieve the outcomes outlined in the course of action, assess progress, and document lessons learned to inform sustainability. MWCC provides support in developing guidance, training, tools, and other resources key to successfully implementing and sustaining initiatives.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) operates the Department's technical assistance center for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program.

In this role, NCHE works with schools, service providers, parents, and other interested stakeholders to ensure that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll and succeed in school.

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:

1. Expand and disseminate knowledge about Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and technologies among key stakeholder groups.
2. Increase AEM Center stakeholders’ skills; and motivation.
3. 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.

The National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) provides technical assistance to meet the needs of children (birth to 21) with deaf-blindness in five initiative areas: early identification and intervention; family engagement; interveners and qualified personnel; transition; and assessment, planning, and instruction. It's universal, targeted, and intensive TA is conducted in concert with state deaf-blind projects throughout the U. S., and with national family organizations. NCDB has an extensive website with information and products to support its TA as well as relevant information on deaf-blindness of use to families, service providers, and the general public.