The Southeast Comprehensive Center works with the state education agencies (SEAs) in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina to build their capacity to (a) assess the improvement needs of districts and schools and then develop solutions to address these needs; (b) build and sustain systemic support for district and school improvement efforts related to closing achievement gaps and improving achievement outcomes; and (c) improve the tools and systems for school improvement and accountability. To facilitate the development of state capacity on specific issues, SECC provides technical assistance, professional development, and knowledge dissemination services to individual states and to the region as a whole.

SECC provides technical assistance through small- and large-group work sessions in which its staff members provide logistical support, facilitation, and resources for SEA staff to work collaboratively to develop a plan, product, or tool that addresses a specific issue in the state. Specific areas in which SECC has provide technical assistance to its states include, but are not limited to, statewide systems of support, response to intervention, standards and curriculum development, educator quality and effectiveness, as well as school improvement planning and implementation.

To build state knowledge and capacity to implement specific programs, strategies, or practices, SECC also provides or supports professional development sessions for SEA staff or state specified professional development providers and school support team members. These sessions are also based on the specific needs of the state but are focused on building knowledge and skills of individual participants to enable them to work with assigned districts and schools. Session topics covered include, but are not limited to, elementary reading strategies, response to intervention, adolescent literacy strategies, strategies for improving achievement of English Language Learners, mathematics and science instructional strategies, high school redesign, and dropout prevention strategies.

In addition to state specific technical assistance and professional development services, SECC also provides a number of regionally available knowledge dissemination services.

NCLB Scanning Services

Through coordination and consultation with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), content centers, and other regional research and service agencies, SECC continually identifies reliable and relevant information related to implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Types of information include ED regulations and public statements regarding NCLB goals, provisions, and outcomes; SEA planning and compliance documents, reports, and other relevant communication; state requirements, models, and materials; and media coverage of the states’ implementation and outcomes.

Electronic Updates

SECC provides frequent updates to state education agency staff through two online publications—eBulletin and Spotlight, which are distributed via e-mail and archived on SECC’s Web site.

eBulletin is a quarterly publication that provides timely access to resources and information that can help SEA staff address implementation of NCLB and school improvement issues. The publication also provides current information on research related to topics of keen interest to SECC states and other stakeholders.

Spotlight is a monthly publication that highlights resources, materials, technical assistance (TA), and professional development services offered by SECC as well as by other service providers. It also features work that SECC is doing with the states in its region to support their staffs and local education agencies.

Rapid Response Service

To assist SEA staff in promptly addressing queries from policymakers or school-district personnel, SECC compiles evidence-based information to help inform them on aspects of their work. To ensure quality responses, SECC staff conducts interviews with clients to gain a thorough understanding of the query and the context in which the information will be used. Staff then researches each request and prepares a rapid response, a summary document detailing the information compiled as well as what other states are doing to address the specific issue. This service also allows SEA staff to submit electronic requests for rapid responses and to view published responses on various topics via SECC’s Web site.

Online Resource Center

This service provides a range of Web-based resources including relevant information, planning tools, materials, and models produced by SECC and other service providers including the content centers, other regional comprehensive centers, regional educational laboratories, research and development centers, What Works Clearinghouse, and various other TA providers.

Regional Meetings

From SECC's work with each of the five states served, issues and problems have emerged that are common to all five states. In addition, other technical assistance providers are also working to meet similar needs of states that they share with SECC. In an effort to leverage resources and to assist SEAS in collaboration opportunities, SECC hosts, or cohosts with other TA providers, regional meetings for SEA staff members and partner organizations to support collaboration on issues of mutual concern. The intent of such meetings is to provide states with accurate information on the area of need addressed at the meeting, with focused discussion on how that information will be used by the state to improve its support to schools and districts. Topics covered in SECC regional meetings include response to intervention; improving instruction and outcomes for English Language Learners; the National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report and its implications for states; teacher quality; educational leadership; and high school tiered intervention.