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Evaluating Comprehensive School Reform Models at Scale
Focus on Implementation
Despite increasing pressure for improving student achievement, most studies of comprehensive school reforms show only a modest effect — or sometimes no effect at all. But if reform has not been implemented, or has been implemented only in part, changes in student achievement cannot be expected. To fill the “implementation measurement” gap, the authors developed a unique methodology to quantitatively measure the level of school reform implementation. They applied this methodology to measure actual implementation of four different models in a large number of schools, along with a corresponding set of non-model schools. They found that very few schools have fully implemented their reform model. Practices in model and non-model schools are similar, although some practices are implemented more thoroughly or frequently when prescribed by a model. At the current level of implementation, comprehensive school reform is likely to have little effect on student achievement.
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Contents
Chapter One:
Introduction
Chapter Two:
Measuring CSR Model Implementation
Chapter Three:
Sources of Data
Chapter Four:
Conformance to Model Design
Chapter Five:
Practices of Model and Nonmodel Schools
Chapter Six:
Supporting CSR Models: Factors That Impact Model Implementation
Chapter Seven:
Conclusions
Appendix A:
Protocol for Interviews with Model Developers
Appendix B:
“Should Have or Do” CSR Model Requirements
Appendix C:
Number of Schools with Longitudinal Data, by Years of Implementation
Appendix D:
Principal and Teacher Questionnaires
Appendix E:
Imputation for Missing Data
Appendix F:
Implementation Standardized Scores, by Years of Implementation
Appendix G:
Implementation Standardized Scores Specific to Each Model
Appendix H:
Implementation Standardized Scores, by Model and Nonmodel Schools
Appendix I:
Model Support and School Background Variables
Appendix J:
Support of Implementation of Individual Models
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