All of their estimates, they say, were above the level they consider educationally significant. In five of 10 comparisons, the Maryland group found that control groups outscored Success for All students. The Maryland group also compiled six estimated effects from other independent evaluations of Success for All. Success for All's expressed goal is to bring all children to or near grade level by 3rd grade so they may progress normally in the later grades. Mr. Slavin and Ms. Fashola make no mention of their own negative findings in their Kappan report.
Federal funds continue to support the promulgation and biased evaluation of failed programs.
Mr. Venezky carried out a Success for All evaluation in Baltimore, where the program originated and should do well. He, nonetheless, concluded that the average Success for All student failed to reach grade-level performance by the end of grade 3. Even with further Success for All instruction, students continued to fall further behind national norms. By the end of 5th grade, they were almost 2.4 years behind. Thus, the Success for All developers and independent reviewers differ hugely in their estimates of its effectiveness.