Comprehensive School Reform: Common Issues and Lessons Learned for Improving Low-Performing Schools

An overview of the Program Assessment and Review (PAR) process, a model for school improvement, is presented. The New York State Education Department chose this model as part of their dropout prevention initiative for low-performing middle schools. The commonalities of the 12 school districts participating in the project are offered as a perspective on what other districts can do to improve instruction and achievement in their schools.