The Eight-Year Study has an extraordinary place in history but is largely unknown to current educators as something that occurred long ago (1930-1942 actually) but is one of the largest if not the most significant studies ever. It attempted to learn if progressive educational practices would serve students better than traditional programs. It proved that without a doubt. The summary volume of the 5 volumes is available online courtesy of the Maine Association for Middle Level Learning with the cooperation of the University of Maine.
The archives of this majestic study and interviews with participants have just been captured in a wonderful new book: Stories of the Eight-Year Study: Reexamining Secondary Education in America by Craig Kridel and Robert V. Bullough Jr.
A second valuable book is The Eight-Year Study Revisited: Lessons from the Past for the Future by Richard P. Lipka et al, published by the National Middle School Association (1998). This excellent, well-written book with chapters written by six authors illuminates key findings that have relevance for schooling today. While written with the middle school in mind, its concepts are applicable across the secondary grades.