This report summarizes the activities and results of the Appalachian Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), 1 of 10 RACs established under the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.). The RACs were formed to identify the region’s most critical educational needs and develop recommendations for technical assistance to meet those needs. The technical assistance provided to state education agencies (SEAs) aims to build capacity for supporting local education agencies (LEAs) or local education districts and schools, especially low-performing districts and schools; improving educational outcomes for all students; closing achievement gaps; and improving the quality of instruction. The report represents the work of the Appalachian RAC, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Committee members convened three times and reached out to their respective constituencies between July 19, 2016, and August 31, 2016. Members of the Appalachian RAC represented a variety of stakeholders, including early childhood specialists, state and local school board members, education researchers and practitioners, school administrators, parents, and representatives from organizations serving educators and federal and state governments. The members collaborated, communicated, and shared resources using Communities360⁰, an interactive online platform hosted within the larger GRADS360⁰ system housed within the secure U.S. Department of Education environment. Table A provides a list of committee members and their affiliations