Just for the Kids
Best Practice Studies:
Findings from Hawaii Schools

The Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Business Roundtable, National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), and The Broad Foundation are pleased to release NCEA’s Executive Summary of the 2005 Just for the Kids Best Practice Study featuring the successful practices of Hawaii public elementary schools.

Hawaii was among 20 states that participated in 2005 Just for the Kids (JFTK) Best Practice Studies and Institutes designed to share the exemplary practices found in higher performing schools and systems. Through this report of the practices of elementary schools that are successful in raising student achievement, schools in need of improvement can gain direct and practical insight from higher performing schools in Hawaii and other states. “When used correctly, this information will assist schools in directing the implementation of best practices based on effective, working models in our higher achieving schools,” said Hawaii State Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto. Funding is in place to continue this work through the study of Hawaii middle schools and high schools in 2006-2007.

Goals and Uses for Study Results

Some schools are more successful at raising student achievement and reaching higher standards than others. We wanted to know what these schools were doing and how their practices could help other schools. The goal of this study was to reaffirm that high academic achievement for all students is possible and to examine the principles and practices that lead to success. Toward that end, a team of Hawaii researchers spoke with district leaders, principals, and teachers at public elementary schools in Hawaii and examined the practices of educators in those schools. Those practices are the subject of this summary report.

JFTK Best Practice Studies and Institutes cover specific strategies being used to build leadership capacity, offer intervention to students, make research-based selections of instructional programs, and much more. In addition to NCEA’s Executive Summary of individual state best practices, comprehensive studies for schools with diverse demographics are organized around an interactive JFTK Framework of Best Practices that is accessible at www.just4kids.org. Additionally, www.just4kids.org offers tools that allow schools and districts to conduct self-audits to see how their current practices align with The Framework.

Just for the Kids Process

Since 2001, NCEA as national sponsor of Just for the Kids, has been focused on finding and sharing excellence in educational practices through the study of consistently higher performing schools in partnership with state-based research and education organizations.

The structure of the JFTK Best Practice Framework is used to examine the successful practices of higher performing schools in each state.

The Framework is not a theoretical creation; it is based on the study of nearly 500 schools and systems across and nation. The Framework only includes the activities and practices that distinguish higher performing schools from average performing schools.

In The Framework, quality instruction is supported systemically by district and school practices, as well as by those in the classroom. It is also important to remember that the big picture helps us make sense of individual pieces. Interconnectedness of practices is critical in The Framework. However, these programs and practices are presented as examples of what is working in some school systems and should not be interpreted as a prescriptive list of programs or strategies.

About the Hawaii Study

The 2005 JFTK-Hawaii Best Practice Study was made possible in part through national funding from The Broad Foundation, as well as with local support from the Hawaii Business Roundtable, The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and Hawaii P-20 Initiative.

To learn more about participating schools in Hawaii, use the following information links:

• Hawaii Study Executive Summary
• Just4kids.org/HI
• Lead Researcher: Karan Aka
• Hawaii Business Roundtable: Carl Takamura
• Hawaii Department of Education: Robert McClelland
• NCEA Study Coordinator: Susan Whisenant

Use the table above to access school case studies.

The National Center for Educational Achievement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 01-0577238) whose founding organizations include Just for the Kids, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Education Commission of the States.

www.just4kids.org