Texas Insider Report: HOUSTON Texas Middle school is the last and best chance to prepare students for a successful high school career" said former first lady Mrs. Laura W. Bush in announcing the program at Stovall Middle School of the Aldine ISD in Houston. Nearly one-third of Americas young people fail to graduate from high school in four years.
Research shows with systematic intensive interventions that students who started middle school behind can catch up" Mrs. Bush said to a crowd of 400 students teachers parents education policy experts and city and school leaders.
Middle School Matters is the most comprehensive research-based program to be applied to middle schools. The Institute has partnered with the nations top researchers to integrate for the first time proven practices that yield significant advances in middle school student achievement and readiness for high school.
Implemented as a total package Middle School Matters provides the proven mix of interventions to guarantee success.
Researchers developing Middle School Matters have identified 11 elements as critical for middle school success. These elements include concepts such as school leadership" and reading and reading interventions." Middle School Matters incorporates key benchmarks such as the ability to read for learning write to communicate and perform complex math equations at grade level.
Under each of the 11 elements a research team convened by the Bush Institute prescribes five to eight data-driven specifications that include practical
examples of how to best implement the research in the classroom.
At the Bush Institute we think big work together and get results" said James K. Glassman executive director of the Bush Institute. Middle School Matters will dramatically transform our partner middle schools and create an environment where students enter high school ready to do the work."
Middle School Matters will be implemented in three phases. The program is currently in
Phase One which includes building the platform and ensuring that all components work together cohesively.
Phase Two will pilot the program in 10-15 schools. Each pilot school will undergo a tailored needs assessment and will be matched with a support team to assist in the implementation of the Middle School Matters specifications over two years.
Phase Three will evaluate the pilot programs and scale the initiative to engage more schools.
Initial funding for Middle School Matters has been generously provided by a $500000 donation from the Meadows Foundation.
We applaud the Bush Institute for taking the lead to develop effective strategies to improve middle school students outcomes and appreciate the opportunity to partner with them to focus on this effort" said Bruce Esterline vice president for grants at the Meadows Foundation.
Other collaborators include Americas Promise Civic Enterprises Southern Regional Education Board Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas Dallas and Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University.
Americas Promise Alliance Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University are excited about partnering with the Bush
Institute" said John Bridgeland president and CEO of Civic Enterprises.
Middle School Matters is addressing a very critical part of the pipeline in helping students stay in school and be successful once they leave. The Institutes focus on research-based strategies is an excellent one and we look forward to working in tandem with this initiative."
For more information on Middle School Matters and to learn more about the education reform initiatives at the George W. Bush Institute please visit
www.georgewbushcenter.com.
About the George W. Bush Institute:
The George W. Bush Institutes mission is to unleash human potential around the world through expanding human freedom educational reform global health and economic growth. In all its programming the Institute seeks to empower women and social entrepreneurs as proven agents of change in society. The Institute is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center which includes the Presidential library located on the campus of SMU in Dallas. For more information please visit
www.georgewbushcenter.com.
