The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd works with state and local educational agencies to improve academic outcomes and increase opportunities for children, youth, and adults. We help ensure that all students are able to access high-quality education in learning environments—regardless of their race, sex, family income, national origin, or religion.
We provide technical assistance (TA) at the request of state, regional, and local educational agencies in order to increase access to high-quality instruction for all students, help systems provide pathways for all students to workforce readiness and success, and support districts in addressing chronic absenteeism so that all children are in school and learning. Our partners include state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools or their governing boards. As a federally-funded center, our services are provided at no cost to the clients in our region.
Explore our three levels of support:
“The full suite of services designed and offered for the issue I brought to the WEEAC was thoughtful and excellent.”
— WEEAC Technical Assistance Recipient
Publicly Available Resources (Universal TA)
We provide free, self-serve resources to help address your most urgent and important equity issues—no request required.
Browse our library of materials developed by WEEAC subject-matter experts, alongside carefully selected resources from other leading organizations that share our mission. The collection includes:
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- Tools & practice guides
- Stories from schools
- Infographics & presentations
Small-Group Experiences for State and Local Leaders (Targeted TA)
Targeted TA serves state and local leaders who want to learn with and from peers facing similar challenges.
WEEAC regularly convenes collaborative groups of education system leaders through workshops, resource sharing, peer-to-peer learning, book discussions, office hours, and networking.
Featured Peer Collaboratives:
- Safe and Supportive Learning Environments Essentials—A virtual professional learning series for K–12 district and school staff and administrators. It integrates a broad range of research-based content and practices that support teachers in fostering positive school climates and supportive learning environments for all learners. Participants will develop the knowledge and capacity needed to embed these proven practices into everyday instruction and experiences across their schools, districts, and agencies.
- Leading From the Middle—When central office leaders strengthen their leadership practice, they create the conditions for district-wide coherence, collaboration, and instructional improvement. Leading from the Middle builds the leadership capacity of directors, coordinators, and other mid-level leaders—equipping them with tools and strategies to lead across departments, support school sites, and sustain change from the center of the system.
To learn more about collaborative learning opportunities, subscribe to hear about upcoming opportunities, or in the meantime, check out News & Events.
“Appreciated the deep and thoughtful listening to develop a meaningful partnership around the issue presented, the range of services and supports made available, and the expert and timely completion.”
— WEEAC Technical Assistance Recipient
Direct Service (Intensive TA)
Intensive TA features one-on-one support tailored to your organization’s specific needs.
We work with you to improve policies, programs, practices, and operations—and outcomes for students, families, and educators. Recent projects have included:
- Landscape scans and policy reviews on a wide range of topics, such as anti-discrimination policies
- Data-driven and evidence-based workshops tailored to your most urgent needs related to serving all students well such as implementing effective instruction, authentic family engagement, and strategic resource allocation
- Coaching on data use and action planning in order to strengthen student attendance, adopt effective discipline practices, and incorporate essential, durable skills into curriculum, academic standards, and more
- Consultation on a wide range of topics relevant to student success, including family engagement, supports for students, and strategic resource allocation to align investments with goals and areas in need of improvement
- Strategic planning and support for leading systems change in education organizations
Featured: Our Work with Nevada to Improve American Indian Student Outcomes
For engagements longer than six months, this support requires a signed agreement between WEEAC and your organization.
Intensive TA Impact Story: Improving American Indian Student Outcomes in Nevada
Nevada’s American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students face persistent gaps in attendance and graduation. Furthermore, a structural data problem compounds these outcomes because the state counts only students who self-identify solely as AI/AN, likely undercounting the true Native student population. For years, Nevada’s Office of Indian Education sought a formal plan to guide the state’s work on behalf of these students.
This impact story describes how the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd provided sustained technical assistance to help Nevada develop and launch its Plan to Improve Outcomes for American Indian Students in Nevada 2025–2030. Combining data analysis, broad community engagement with Tribal leaders and district superintendents, and ongoing thought partnership, the WEEAC built the state’s capacity to lead and own the work. The result is a published 5-year plan with measurable targets—launched at the state’s 2026 American Indian Education Summit—and an expanded Office of Indian Education positioned to lead sustained implementation in the years ahead.
