The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) appointed eleven members to the Appalachian Regional Advisory Committee (AP RAC) to provide advice concerning the educational needs of the region as required by the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279; 20 USC 9605). The RAC was charged with providing this advice by: (1) conducting an educational needs assessment of its region to assist in determining regional educational priorities; and (2) submitting a report based on the assessment to the Secretary and the Director of the Institute of Education Services (IES) within six months of the Committee being first convened. The ED will use the RAC's assessment concerning the educational needs of the Region and the committee's recommendations regarding the best ways to provide technical assistance to meet these needs to prepare the Request For Proposals for the 20 Comprehensive Technical Assistance Centers (TAC) that are to be funded by the ED. The statutory mission of these centers is to: (1) provide training, professional development, and technical assistance on the (a) administration and implementation of programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, (b) use of scientifically valid teaching methods and assessment tools for teachers and administrators, and (c) facilitation of communication between education experts, school officials, teachers, parents, and librarians, as appropriate; (2) disseminate and provide information, reports, and publications for improving academic achievement, closing achievement gaps, and encouraging and sustaining school improvement; and (3) develop teacher and school leader inservice and preservice training models that illustrate best practices in the use of technology in different content areas.