Success at the Core : Research

How are members using Success at the Core, and how are the materials impacting school leadership capacity and instructional practice, and ultimately, student outcomes? Research results to date affirm that:

The materials are high quality, relevant to targeted users, usable in K-12 contexts, and valuable for instructional improvement.
Leadership teams experience growth in leadership capacity, professionalization of school culture and heightened instructional focus.
Teachers experience renewed commitment to student-centered teaching, improved instructional practices, and more positive classroom environments.
Students experience increased engagement and motivation, greater capacity to ask questions and work collaboratively, and deeper understanding of content.

Our growing portfolio of research, carried out by independent research organizations, includes:

Pilot Evaluation Study (2009-2010): Inverness Research evaluated the pilot of Success at the Core in eleven middle schools and one district in Washington State.
Use Studies (Fall 2010 and Spring 2011): Inverness Research and WestEd/Learning Innovations conducted two online user surveys and in-depth interviews to help us learn more about how members are using the toolkit.
Sustainability Study (Fall 2010): Inverness Research conducted a sustainability study to assess the extent to which the materials continued to be used beyond the pilot phase.
Impact Study (2010-2011): Inverness Research studied the impact of the materials on teachers’ classroom practices and on student outcomes.

Pilot Study

Results of the Pilot Evaluation in Washington State (PDF)

Summary of Inverness Research’s independent pilot evaluation

Design and Methods of the Pilot Evaluation (PDF)

Details on how the pilot was evaluated

Use Studies

Second Use Study Executive Summary (PDF)

Summary of Spring 2011 user survey findings

Initial Use Studies Executive Summary (PDF)

Summary of Fall 2010 user survey and in-depth interview findings

Impact and Sustainability Studies

Results of Impact Study (PDF)

Summary of Inverness Research’s impact study

Design and Methods of Impact Study (PDF)

Details on how the impact study was evaluated

Results of Sustainability Study (PDF)

Summary of Inverness Research’s sustainability study

Visit Our Theory of Action to learn more about how these materials are designed to impact outcomes for students and schools.