Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I request services?
  
• Who are the staff?
  
• What is the benefit of the network?
  
• I'm still not sure what type of services you provide. Can you describe your services in more detail?
  
• What kinds of materials do you have available?
  
• What has been your impact?
  
  

How do I request services?

Contact the comprehensive center serving your region to inquire about services and how to request assistance.

Who are the staff?

Staff of the comprehensive centers have a wide range of expertise and experience in working with schools and districts. Many are former teachers and principals. All are well-versed in the most recent research about what works for schools and effective means to engage in school reform and change processes. The centers' staff are also well-informed about current and pending legislation, best practices, and regional and local needs. Each center is staffed according to the needs of the region it serves.

What is the benefit of the network?

The Comprehensive Center Network is a nation-wide network of service providers focused on school-wide reform. As a network, staff are able to share resources and capitalize on the best expertise available. They interact regularly with Federal and State legislators and act as a conduit for key information from local to federal levels. Thus, the Comprehensive Centers have a unique ability to span local, state and federal boundaries to have an impact on multiple levels of the educational system. In addition, through a systems approach, the Centers focus on changing practices of individuals in high-poverty, low-performing schools which result in improved student achievement.

I'm still not sure what type of services you provide. Can you describe your services in more detail?

Center staff provide workshops, trainings, institutes and other professional development activities. Staff also offer consultations by phone or in person on a multitude of topics. Comprehensive Centers disseminate materials and information by email and the Internet. To learn more about what is happening in your area, contact the Comprehensive Center in your region.

What kinds of materials do you have available?

Several publications are available on our Publications page. In addition, each of the Comprehensive Centers maintains an extensive set of materials that are available for dissemination. Contact your center to get a complete list of what is available.

What has been your impact?

An independent evaluation of the Comprehensive Centers and the Network was completed in 2000. Meeting the Needs of Children and Educators is a summary of that evaluation. The full three-volume evaluation is available online in both PDF and MS Word formats. Volume I: Final Report on the Evaluation synthesizes the information gathered by the evaluation. Volume II: Case Studies of Center Services to State and Local Sites and Case Studies of Collaborative Activities contains case studies of center services to states, districts, and schools, and profiles of collaboration among centers and other technical assistance providers. Volume III: Comprehensive Center Profiles describes the mission and goals, organization and staffing, needs assessment strategies, portfolio of services, and collaboration activities with other technical assistance providers, for each of the 15 centers.