Roots and Wings extends Success for All into the areas of mathematics, social studies, and science. Rather than remediating students' learning deficits, at-risk students are instead given an accelerated, high expectations curriculum. Programs include the Comprehensive School Mathematics Program developed by Central Midwestern Research and Evaluation Laboratory and now disseminated by the Mid-continent Regional Education Laboratory, Cognitively Guided Instruction, Project SEED, Skills Reinforcement Project developed by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, and Maneuvers With Mathematics, developed at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Programs include Head Start, the Perry Preschool-High Scope project, and Early Intervention for School Success. Successful programs had well-specified components, materials, and professional development procedures which are used in all participating schools.
Effective programs provide extensive professional development and follow-up technical assistance.
The programs also had a dissemination network to support a school interested in implementing program options. I would encourage our principals and instructional administrators to begin to explore these program options. Such programs could serve to create a unique school experience designed to improve student achievement and delivered through a neighborhood magnet.