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Last updated October
12, 2006
The Best Evidence Encyclopedia
Which comprehensive school reform
programs have evidence of positive effects on
middle and high school achievement? To find out,
this review summarizes evidence on comprehensive
school reform (CSR) models in grades 6-12. Comprehensive
school reform models are programs used schoolwide
to improve student achievement. They typically
include the following elements:
- Innovative approaches to instruction
and curriculum used in many subjects throughout
the school
- Extensive, ongoing professional
development, and coaches or facilitators in the
building to help manage the reform process
- Measureable goals and benchmarks
for student achievement
- Emphasis on parent and
community involvement
CSR models are developed and supported
by national organizations, mostly nonprofits,
that provide professional development, materials,
and support to networks of schools.
| For
general findings, program ratings, and
contact information |
click
here |
| For
a description of review methods |
click
here |
|
Overall, 197 studies on 18 national
programs were reviewed. Of these, 15 studies were
rated “conclusive,” and 12 were rated
“suggestive.” Below are listed the
programs according to their overall ratings, as
reported by CSRQ. Within categories, programs
are listed in alphabetical order.
* Within categories, programs are listed in alphabetical
order
For its quantitative analyses of
overall achievement, CSRQ identified 18 CSR programs
serving at least 40 schools in at least 3 states.
They then did an extensive search for all types
of studies that evaluated these programs. The
evaluations’ validity was rated as inconclusive,
suggestive, or conclusive. Conclusive studies
met the following criteria:
-
Schools using
each program had to be compared to equivalent
control groups
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Schools had
to have pretest scores or other baseline measures
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The outcome
measures had to be reliable and valid
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The study
duration had to be at least one year
To be considered
“suggestive,” a study had to meet
the same standards, but could have up to two “non-critical
threats to validity.”
CSR programs
were rated in terms of their evidence of positive
achievement effects as follows:
CSRQ
also looked at evidence in three additional areas:
-
Additional
Student Outcomes
-
The model's
design based on research
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Services and
supports provided to schools
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