About WESTOP

What's WESTOP

The Mission

The Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) is a regional network of members interested in furthering access to educational opportunities for economically and educationally disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities by enhancing members' professional development and equipping members with the right tools necessary in promoting institutional approaches at the local level and furthering policies at both the state and federal level which would advance educational equity.

Objectives

· Establishing communication and coordination among directors and personnel of educational opportunity programs.

· Providing technical assistance to educational equity program directors and personnel.

· Promoting and engaging in research and evaluation which will enhance the effectiveness of programs designed to provide educational opportunities for all.

· Researching local, state, and federal legislation, regulation, policies, and procedures for the furtherance and establishment of opportunity programs.

· Advocating for continued financial and legislative support at the federal, state and local levels for educational programs working with economically and educationally disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities.

· Serving as a resource to committees of Federal, State, and Local legislative bodies as well as to the Department of Education at the state and national levels.