About Us

Who We Are

The Region 1 Comprehensive Center at American Institutes for Research (AIR) builds the capacity of state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies, and schools to improve instructional quality, address achievement and equity gaps, and improve outcomes for all students on state-identified priority initiatives. Region 1 staff bring substantial technical assistance and content expertise in designing, developing, and implementing strategies to support educational improvement. 

Our project plans are tailored to address high-leverage challenges articulated by education leaders in the region. In addition, we work closely with the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands stakeholders to use data and research to improve student outcomes.   

Our Approach 

Region 1 Comprehensive Center provides technical assistance to SEAs in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Region 1 Comprehensive Center is part of a network of centers that focus on building the capacity of SEAs to develop, design, and implement strategies that improve educational outcomes for students through an approach that includes:

• Facilitating the identification, design and implementation of evidence-based practices and innovations that meet the needs of Region 1 states. 

• Increasing opportunities for Region 1 students through community engagement and cross-agency collaboration. 

• Leveraging innovative strategies and technology to address state- and community-specific needs. 

• Using our deep content expertise and knowledge of education policy and systems to support Region 1 states.  

About the Comprehensive Center Network 

The Region 1 Comprehensive Center is part of the Comprehensive Center Network, which is made up of 19 regional centers and a national center tasked with providing capacity-building services to states, districts, and schools to improve educational outcomes and instructional quality for all students. In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Education awarded five-year grants to the current cohort of centers, which offer services to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Education, and U.S. territories and outlying areas. For more information and resources from across the network, visit the Comprehensive Center Portal.

Our Advisory Board 

Advisory board members are critical to the success of our work, and their voices guarantee that our work meets the region’s needs. The board—which represents a broad range of state stakeholders—advises Region 1 staff on strategies for addressing the region’s education needs, maintaining high quality standards, and promoting improved student academic achievement.