The Regional Educational Laboratories (REL) program funded by the U.S. Department of Education is a major research and development effort to help educators, policymakers, and communities improve schools and help all students attain their full potential. The network of 10 Regional Labs works to ensure that lessons about school reform developed or learned in one site can be appropriately applied elsewhere and that everyone involved in educational improvement will have access to the best available research, knowledge from practice, and exemplary and promising programs. Each Laboratory takes a leadership role in one of several significant education issues, with an emphasis on evidence-based research: Assessment of Educational Achievement, Curriculum and Instruction Related to Reading and Language Mastery, Educational Leadership, Educational Technology, Expanded Learning Opportunities, Family and Community Connections with Schools, Re-Engineering Schools for Improvement, Standards-Based Instructional Practice, and Teaching Diverse Learners. Quality research and development of evidence-based educational strategies is the centerpiece of the REL?s work. The laboratories work with states, districts, schools and teachers around the country designing and studying practices that will improve student achievement. REL staff help develop the capacity of educators to utilize research as well as analyze their own practices to make changes, if necessary, based on their findings. RELs partnered with educators in 252 locations or "sites" across the country in 2003 to study how schools, districts, intermediate agencies, and states incorporate and sustain evidence-based strategies that support improvements in student achievement, working with 4,838 teachers, 1,398 administrators, and 611 parents, representing substantial increases in sites and participants from 2002. Each chapter of this report highlights the specific work of one of the Labs. A map specifying the locations and contacr each Lab is included.