An Empirical Test of the Theory of Urban Systemic Reform

The Cna Corporation, Arlington VA

Investigators

Abstract

The goal of this proposed study is to test the theory of educational improvement in urban settings based upon systemic reform as delineated by NSF's process and outcome drivers by: 1. estimating the quantitative relationship between individual elements of NSF's process drivers and the change in student achievement (i.e., the outcome drivers); 2. measuring the synergistic effects of the drivers upon each other; and 3. attempting to estimate a quantitative relationship between the drivers and student achievement. Additionally, the proposed study will collect data at the middle and high school levels. The proposed study is designed to examine the evidence supporting the theory of systemic reform, not to evaluate the success of the CPMSAs.