SIG Approved Evidence Based, Whole School Reform Model

Under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) final requirements, 80 Fed. Reg. 7224 (Feb. 9, 2015), (available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/02/09/2015-02570/final-requirements-school-improvement-grants-title-i-of-the-elementary-and-secondary-education-act), a local educational agency (LEA) may apply to its State educational agency (SEA) to use SIG funds to implement an evidence-based, whole school reform model. Under the final requirements, an evidence-based, whole-school reform model:

    1. Is supported by evidence of effectiveness, which must include at least one study of the model that—
      1. Meets What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards with or without reservations;
      2. Found a statistically significant favorable impact on a student academic achievement or attainment outcome, with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What Works Clearinghouse; and
      3. If meeting What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards with reservations, includes a large sample and a multi-site sample as defined in 34 CFR 77.1 (Note: multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and multi-site sample requirements so long as each study meets the other requirements in this section);
    2. Is a whole-school reform model as defined in these requirements; and
    3. Is implemented by the LEA in partnership with a whole-school reform model developer as defined in these requirements.

To identify models that meet the requirements of the evidence-based, whole-school reform model set forth in the final requirements (restated above), the U.S. Department of Education (Department) conducted two calls for evidence, one in fall 2014 and another in winter 2015, inviting submissions of prospective models for review against the final requirements by What Works Clearinghouse-certified reviewers and Department staff.

The review of prospective models is ongoing. The Department will update the list provided here on a rolling basis to reflect those models that have been determined to meet the final requirements. The Department also intends to provide an opportunity for individuals or entities to submit additional models for review in the future.

We list below those models that were found to have met the requirements of the evidence-based, whole-school reform model. We have also provided, for each model, the narrative description and at least one study meeting What Works Clearinghouse standards that were submitted in response to the calls for evidence. An LEA that chooses to apply to its SEA for SIG funds to implement an evidence-based, whole-school reform model must select from among those models listed below.

As a reminder, under the final requirements, an LEA implementing an evidence-based, whole-school reform model must implement the model in partnership with a whole-school reform model developer, as defined in the final requirements. Under that definition, the LEA must partner with the entity or individual that maintains proprietary rights to the evidence-based, whole-school reform model. If no entity or individual maintains proprietary rights to the model, the LEA must partner with an entity or individual that has a demonstrated record of success in implementing a whole-school reform model and is selected through a rigorous review process that includes a determination that the entity or individual is likely to produce strong results for the school. We have distinguished below between those models for which an entity or individual maintains proprietary rights and those for which no proprietary rights exist.

Proprietary Strategies

Success for All

Institute for Student Achievement (ISA)

Positive Action

Non-Proprietary Strategies

Small Schools of Choice

Last Modified: 09/04/2019

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