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

Illinois State University (ISU), Illinois Business Roundtable (IBRT), 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 Illinois public elementary and middle schools.

Illinois was among 20 states that participated in 2005 Just for the Kids (JFTK) Best Practice Studies and Institutes designed to inform improvement efforts based on the exemplary practices found in higher performing schools and systems. Through this report of the practices of elementary and middle schools that are successful in raising student achievement, schools in need of improvement can gain direct and practical insight from schools in Illinois and other states. "This Report turns research into action to improve student achievement," said Ed Rust, Chairman and CEO of State Farm Insurance Companies an Illinois study sponsor. "We were proud to contribute to this important study and feel that the practices of successful schools are an essential tool for educators who are serious about school improvement." Rust also serves on the NCEA Board of Directors.

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 is 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 Illinois researchers spoke with district leaders, principals, and teachers at schools in Illinois 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 Study 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 Illinois Study

The 2005 JFTK-Illinois Best Practice Study was made possible in part through national funding from The Broad Foundation, and National Center for Educational Achievement as well as with local support from the Illinois Business Roundtable including State Farm Insurance Companies, LaSalle Bank Corp., Caterpillar Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company and Washington Mutual. Best practice findings from the study are being used throughout Illinois through trainings provided by the IBRT and School Data 4 All, Inc.

To learn more about higher performing elementary and middle schools studied in Illinois, use the following information links:

• Illinois Study Executive Summary
• www.Just4kids.org/IL
• Illinois Research Contact: Lynn Curry (ISU)
• Illinois Business Roundtable: Jennifer M. Ross
• 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