Policy Brief: Focusing on the Basics in Beat-the-Odds Schools

Author(s): Carolyn Woempner and Laura Lefkowits

Audience(s): Policymakers and Administrators

Product Description:

This policy brief draws from a study McREL researchers completed on "beat-the-odds" schools—high-needs schools that demonstrated atypically high student achievement. The study focused on four key components identified as broadly contributing to school success and examined how the components interact to contribute to success in high-needs schools.

Key Ideas:

This policy brief draws from the technical report of the study's findings, High-Needs Schools - What Does It Take to Beat the Odds? The study showed that high-performing schools have a more supportive school environment, more structured instructional practices, and stronger school leadership than low-performing schools.

APA Citation:

Lefkowits, L., & Woempner, C. (2006, July). Focusing on the basics in beat-the-odds schools (Policy brief). Denver, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.