Our Approach
A commitment to equity is reflected in everything we do. We partner with states, districts, and schools to inform policy, share content expertise, and strengthen your understanding and implementation of policies and practices that reduce systemic inequities, eliminate opportunity gaps, and foster equitable opportunities and outcomes. Our evidence-based, collaborative approach is responsive to local contexts and offers timely and relevant supports that are scalable across systems.
Featured Technical Assistance Services from WestEd
Systems Alignment to Support the Whole Person
We provide strategic planning, facilitation, coaching, and consultation services to support local, regional, and state agencies to strengthen intra- and interagency alignment of programs, enhance collaboration within and across sectors, and improve the effectiveness of whole-person initiatives. Learn more about this service.
Systemic Equity Review
Our work builds the capacity of state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) and other education organizations to implement culturally responsive data literacy that centers on the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other students of color along with students whose identities are intersectional. Learn more about this service.
National Centers
WestEd works with diverse partners—including SEAs, LEAs, schools, institutions of higher education, and social services agencies—to expand capacity and improve outcomes for learners and their communities.
We operate two types of centers:
- support centers that provide customized local and state consulting and technical assistance services designed to support positive, systemwide outcomes across many domains
- research and development centers that develop research-based solutions for promoting student success in collaboration with practitioners
Policy Analysis
Our researchers provide policymakers and other leaders at the national, state, district, and local levels with the information, analysis, and other support they need to make well-informed decisions.
We bring the best knowledge from research and practice to bear on key policy issues so that our clients can consider the potential impacts of choices they might make and can understand which decisions are most likely to yield positive results.
We respond to requests from federal, state, and local policymakers and leaders, including state legislators and legislative staff, as well as SEAs and other state agencies.
Convening Leaders
We organize 1- and 2-day conferences, symposia, and group meetings around key policy topics, allowing leaders to learn together about research and best practice. We also convene and support longer term learning communities for local leaders (e.g., elected officials, business leaders) who are committed to understanding the common education challenges experienced in their locales and to working with their school districts to bridge opportunity gaps.
Featured Policy and Convening Supports
Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable
The statewide Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable works in partnership with local school districts to increase student success in school. The Roundtable convenes three to four times annually. Meetings are designed to facilitate critical conversations, goal setting, ideation, exploration of innovative strategies, examination of statewide initiatives, listening, and learning—all with the clear goal of empowering communities toward better outcomes.
State Education Agency Partnership Network
Our SEA Leadership Network brings together SEA leaders from across the country for role-alike meetings, conversations, sharing, and learning. The purpose of our meetings is to hold space for creating opportunities for state-to-state learning and connection. Participation is free. Learn more about our network.