Two years ago, when a team of Kentucky education specialists shopped around for programs that would raise student performance, it found the publishers of the programs defensive. Rather than answer pointed questions, they argued that state education officials had already accepted the programs. But when the team checked with Kentucky's own education department, it found no one had asked about results. The toughest question asked was whether the textbook blue would hold up. After sifting through 500 programs, the Kentucky team came up with only about 50 it could recommend.
Some reforms can prove they work, according to the guide.
Eight simply had no research on results. Yet even the weakest programs are used. In 1994 at Dothan High School 232 students graduated. There were 361 students who entered Dothan High School as ninth graders. The four period day went into effect in the fall of 1995.