ARKANSAS BEST PRACTICES - ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

 

 

Elementary School - Best Practices Study

 

The goal of the 2004 Arkansas Elementary School Best Practices study was to identify practices in Arkansas elementary schools that improve student achievement. Once best practices are identified, the intent is that they can be utilized by other schools in their efforts to increase achievement. Practices were examined at the district, school, and classroom level, though the school level was the primary focus of the study.

 

Using guidelines established by the National Center for Educational Accountability (NCEA), seventeen schools were identified as potential participants, and all seventeen schools agreed to be part of the study. More information on the NCEA school selection process can be found at http://www.nc4ea.org/files/NCEA%20HP%20Selection%20Criteria.pdf. Twelve of the seventeen elementary schools were designated as high-performing, and five were designated as average-performing. After the high-performing schools were identified, the five average-performing schools were selected to match the high-performing schools with regard to size, income level, ethnicity, and limited English proficiency population. Geographic location was also considered. School performance data and case studies for all high-performing schools involved in the study can be accessed through the NOGGINS map.

 

Site visits were conducted at each school. Teachers, school administrators, and district personnel were interviewed to identify best practices. Analysis of the data using the five themes and three levels revealed differences between high-performing and average-performing Arkansas elementary schools for every theme and system level. While many schools were engaging in similar activities, schools with the highest performance typically had implemented such activities more effectively and for longer periods of time. Practices that contribute to student achievement within each theme and system level are described in detail, and can be found by clicking on any of the boxes in the grid above. To learn more about the methodology used in the Best Practices study, click here.

 

More information about Just for the Kids and the national Best Practices Study can be found at http://www.just4kids.org/en/research_policy/best_practices/framework.cfm.