Southern Regional Education Board

In partnership, the four higher education regional compacts — Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education — aim to build capacity for open educational resources and practices in states, institutions, and systems. With this grant, the Southern Regional Education Board will expand efforts and engage new opportunities with open education across the South, including partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities, and support coordination across regions to scale and sustain the use of open education across the country.

The Southern region of the United States has historically had higher poverty levels and lower educational achievement than the rest of the country. The South has also struggled more than other regions with teacher shortages and with placing qualified candidates in key subject areas. This grant supports data collection, research, and technical assistance to states as they work to improve the quantity and quality of the teaching force.

By convening, engaging, and supporting policymakers and practitioners, the Southern Regional Education Board works to improve public education at every level. The Southern region of the United States has historically had higher poverty levels and lower educational achievement than the rest of the country. The South has also struggled more than other regions with teacher shortages and with placing qualified candidates in key subject areas. All 16 states in the region have critical shortages in at least three subject areas. Since teachers have more impact on student performance than any other education resource, finding policy options for addressing these staffing shortages is critical. This grant supports data collection, research, and technical assistance to states as they work to improve the quantity and quality of the teaching force.