Survey Cover Letter

Month 00, 2007

Mr./Ms./Dr. ______________

c/o SCHOOL NAME

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. _______________:

We are asking for your input. Every two years, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, operating REL-

Northwest under contract with the U.S. Department of Education, conducts a survey of teachers, principals and

district superintendents throughout the Northwest. This year, the survey focuses on identifying the kinds of

research-based information or “evidence” that will have the greatest value to those in the field working to

improve student learning.

This survey is your opportunity to tell policymakers and the research community what the most pressing

information needs are for educators and to recommend promising practices that you would like to see evaluated.

Your input will help researchers and state and federal policymakers identify and prioritize the research projects

that will have the greatest benefit to schools in your state.

Since we are not able to survey every educator, your response will represent many. Therefore your response is

critical to our understanding of the information that will be most helpful to educators in your state. The survey

will take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. It will ask you to prioritize research options in 11 areas of

educational practice based on the types of information or evidence that will have the greatest benefits to your

school or district.

We are asking you to participate in this survey either by completing the paper survey included in this packet, or by

completing it online. To complete the survey online, go to http://www.tobedetermined.com, a secure website,

and enter the PIN number found on the first page of the enclosed paper survey. Responses to this data collection

will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the

sample and will not associate responses with a specific district or individual. We will not provide information that

identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.

Thank you very much for participating in this important study. Your input will be helpful to educators

throughout the Northwest.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Leffler

Principal Investigator

Regional Needs Assessment Survey

Regional Education Laboratory-Northwest

101 Southwest Main Street, Suite 500

Portland, OR 97204

503-275-9549

lefflerj@nwrel.org

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such

collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB Control No. 1850-

New, EDIC# 3237. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 t0 20 minutes per response,

including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the

information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this

form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4700. If you have comments or concerns regarding the

status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Institute for Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Ave. NW Room

505d, Wash DC 20208.