Beating the Odds

The Center for the Future of Arizona and the Morrison Institute for Public Policy are sharing their findings from a study titled Why Some Schools With Latino Children Beat The Odds and Others Don't.

Using the methodology of author Jim Collins from his book "Good to Great," Mary Jo Waits and her research team found 12 elementary and middle schools in Arizona with mostly Latino and low income students that are "beating the odds" on reading and math scores.
What their research uncovered were six elements of success common throughout each of the "beating the odds" schools. The six elements of success are:

1. Clear bottom line: These schools emphasize the achievement of all children and take responsibility for that performance.
2. Ongoing assessment: These schools track test scores on mandated tests as well as student performance data on monthly, weekly, and even daily assessments.
3. Strong and steady principal: These principals manage the school improvement process by "being neither too rigid nor too flexible.They keep pushing ahead, no matter what the roadblocks."
4. Collaborative solutions: These schools create effective work teams and engage in real teamwork. School improvement responsibilities are distributed among teachers and staff.
5. Stick with the program: These schools pick a proven program that teachers can embrace and stick to it over time.
6. Built to suit: These schools engage in the cycle of instruction, assessment, intervention. When repeated it leads to an educational program tailored to each student.

To learn more about BEAT THE ODDS please go to www.beattheoddsinstitute.org . For a copy please go to www.Arizonafuture.org .