Terrel H. Bell School Reform Network First-Year Implementation Evaluation.

In 1998, the Network expanded its project in Connecticut to a series of 10-day workshop. The Network brought together representative 12-member teams from eight Title I elementary schools to learn about successful research-based reform models and best practices. The teams designed a 3-year Reform Blueprint with goals and objectives, including strategies and timetable to guide implementation activities. The Blueprint was organized around the eight components of the comprehensive school reform that are common to high-performing elementary schools: (1) school-site governance by principal and management council; (2) challenging academic standards in reading, math, and writing; (3) student assessment and adult accountability; (4) school-wide character education; (5) site-based professional development; (6) integrated school support services; (7) instructional technology support; and (8) parent and community engagement. These components were identified as the essential ingredients of changing schools from centers of teaching to centers of learning. No one model could encompass everything that was found in this evaluation. Summaries of the evaluation findings are grouped by three prevailing themes: initiating and maintaining change; dominance of one change strategy; and obstacles to change. (DFR)