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October 2001
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Measuring the Impacts of Whole-School Reforms
Methodological Lessons from an Evaluation of Accelerated Schools
Howard S. Bloom
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This paper introduces education researchers to a new
way of measuring the effects of "whole-school" reforms on student
achievement. Based on interrupted time-series analysis, the method estimates
a reform's effects by comparing standardized test scores in a given grade
before and after the reform is launched. Data from MDRC's evaluation of
the Accelerated Schools model serve to illustrate how the method works.
To help education researchers apply the approach in their own research,
the paper offers a conceptual rationale for using it, reviews its strengths
and limitations, and describes the statistical procedures it entails.
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Funders
This work was supported by the Planning and Evaluation Service of the U.S. Department
of Education, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
The findings and conclusions presented in this report do not necessarily represent the official positions
or policies of the funders.
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