Resource Center   What is action research?   About AEL's Teacher Action Research   Blue Ribbon Schools   Technical Assistance Providers

School Services Center The School Services Center serves as AEL's principal response mechanism to the majority of calls for assistance that come through the Laboratory's toll-free telephone line, by mail, through e-mail, or through contacts with AEL staff. Want to learn more about improving your local schools? Check out the schedule of U.S. Department of Education Satellite Town Meetings. The Center represents an expansion of AEL's Resource Center, a central element of AEL's operation since 1966. What began as a small, internal library of specialized holdings has grown to be "the heart of the Lab", serving as a resource for staff and clients alike. Blue Ribbon Schools and Model Title I Programs With increasing interest in proven programs and practices and in on-line assistance, Center staff maintain a database of the nationally recognized Blue Ribbon Schools in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The database provides contact information, as well as a link to the web sites of the schools. Home pages are created for schools that are not already on-line. AEL also provides current information on nationally recognized Title I programs in schools in the AEL region. Contact information for these schools, recognized for excellence in mathematics and reading, is provided. Action Research Initiatives Teacher action research initiatives build on decades of experience in working with teachers. AEL operates the aelaction listserv, a free, facilitated forum for sharing questions, insights, experiences, and information related to action research. The listserv links the wisdom that teachers bring to "net" discussions with current knowledge from research shared by college/university faculty and list moderators. Other work in the area includes an annual regional conference for action researchers to provide opportunities for sharing findings, networking, improving the listserv, and learning more about action research; and development of a workshop package to guide schools and colleges/universities in supporting classroom investigations. Education Information and Assistance System To link educators and school communities to available resources, AEL staff work with other technical assistance providers funded by the U.S. Department of Education. AEL convenes an annual meeting of these technical assistance providers and others to discuss current activities, regional and state needs, and technical assistance plans. AEL School Services Center / Resource Center / What is action research? Teacher action research at AEL / Blue Ribbon Schools Technical Assistance Providers / Products