CHARLESTON, WV—Edvantia, Inc. announces the launch of the Rural Education Center at Edvantia (RECE). Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in rural education, Edvantia, formerly AEL (Appalachia Educational Laboratory), focuses the work of the Center on two key areas: cultivating national awareness of and advocacy for rural education, and developing and providing needs-based services to help rural schools and districts increase student achievement. Dr. Doris Redfield, Edvantia President and CEO, says, “I am excited about the potential of RECE to help schools, districts, and communities successfully face their rural education challenges. Edvantia staff and partners have the knowledge, experience, and passion to initiate, facilitate, and provide support for rural learners and those who serve them.”

Center director Dr. Caitlin Howley leads a team of professionals who have deep rural education experience and expertise. The Edvantia team is committed to providing innovative, context-driven support to help meet the specific educational needs of the more than 10 million rural students across the United States. Howley explains, “We believe that rural schools are at their best when they nurture the life of the mind as well as the life of the community, when they help create meaningful and sustainable pathways to rural adulthood. Because rural schools have often been engines of invention by necessity, crafting innovations such as multiage classrooms, looping, and place-based education, we think of our clients as true partners. While the Center staff has lots of useful skills and expertise, our rural clients have the local knowledge and love of their communities that makes our work together really successful.”

About the Center: The mission of the Rural Education Center at Edvantia (RECE) is to apply the best knowledge from education research and practice to help rural schools leverage the advantages of rural life to address education challenges. Founded on the excellence of its parent organization, Edvantia, the Center offers comprehensive, needs-based services that are locally situated and culturally sensitive. Edvantia’s highly qualified staff collaborates with rural schools and districts to ensure that rural students have equitable access to educational opportunities so that they—and their communities—may thrive in a changing world.

About Edvantia: Edvantia is a nonprofit education corporation, founded in 1966, that partners with education agencies, foundations, publishers, and service providers to transform education through research and development. Edvantia provides clients with a range of services, including research, evaluation, professional development, and technical assistance.