About SEDL
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) was established as a regional educational laboratory in 1966, and its work focused primarily on states in the Southwest. Over 50 years, SEDL expanded its work with states and regions throughout the United States and has long had projects with a national scope. In 2007, SEDL's leadership changed the organization's name from Southwest Educational Development Laboratory to SEDL to reflect the expanding scope of work. SEDL’s mission was to strengthen the connections among research, policy, and practice in order to improve outcomes for all learners.
In 2015, SEDL merged with the American Institutes for Research (AIR). Improving teaching and learning was at the heart of our work for almost 50 years, and that continues with AIR. Our projects have changed over time, but our commitment to student success has not.
Connect to Our Current Work at AIR
SEDL's Philosophy
SEDL's work was organized by the belief that improvement of the educational system to meet the needs of all children requires a strong
research base that is tightly linked to practice. SEDL partnered with educators, administrators, parents,
and policymakers to conduct research and development projects that resulted in strategies and resources to
improve teaching and learning. SEDL also helped partners and clients bridge the gap between research and
practice with professional development, technical assistance, and information services tailored to meet
their needs. These dissemination activities helped our partners interpret and apply research findings
based on their individual contexts and experiences.
SEDL Staff Photo: December 2014