Congress gave $145 million for school reform in 1998 and more in subsequent years. The Longitudinal Assessment of Comprehensive School Reform Program Implementation and Outcomes reports on year one of the grants. Schools which received funding exercised more staff decision making authority, adopted national reform models and followed a written plan more than other schools engaged in reform. Also the funding targeted low income schools, a goal of the legislation. It will be interesting to learn if substantive lasting reform emerges in the coming yearly reports. The report says the schools had a positive start.
Sadly, the past lengthy history of school reform efforts, even when well funded, demonstrates that not much happens and little endures.
