Agency Description: The Center for School Change (CSC) is a program of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. CSC's mission is to work with "educators, parents, business people, students, policy-makers and other concerned people throughout the United States to increase student achievement, raise graduation rates, improve student attitudes toward learning, their schools, and their communities, and strengthen communities through building stronger working relationships among educators, parents, students and other community members." The Center has moved to Macalester College in 2010.

Project Description: Schools First™ was a $1.2 million project founded by the Cargill Foundation and the Center for School Change at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Eleven K-8 district and charter schools were selected competitively to participate from 2001-2004. The goals for the initiative were to improve student academic achievement and increase family involvement in education.

ACET services: ACET served as the principal evaluator for the Schools First™ Initiative in planning evaluation processes in 2001 to implementing evaluation activities from 2002-2004. Grantees received technical assistance from ACET in evaluation planning, development of measurement tools, and in reporting outcomes. ACET also reviewed implementation reports from each grantee, surveyed project contacts, and facilitated evaluation sessions with grantees to reflect on key findings, lessons learned, and effective strategies.

Three documents produced by ACET are highlighted on the Center for School Change's website:

  Final Evaluation Report 155.84 Kb
 Review of Implementation Reports 76.57 Kb
 2004 Schools First™ Survey Results 129.93 Kb

Please visit the Center for School Change's website for more information about Schools First™.

Date of Service: 2001-2004