Success for All

Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
  • This strategy can help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
  • Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Program overview

  • School-wide reform model integrating curriculum, school culture, family, and community supports
  • Teachers provide literacy instruction for 90 minutes every school day, with additional tutoring for struggling students
  • Consists of specific teaching processes, curriculum, and support services for families and staff
  • Includes a school-wide solutions team that helps improve classroom management problems, engages with parents, and provides family support
Issue Areas
K-12 education
Target Population
Elementary and middle school-aged children
Cost per Participant
$104 per child per year

Evidence and impacts

Strong

Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by the National Institute of Justice; the second-highest level of evidence by U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse, and the second-highest level of evidence inSocial Programs That Work

  • Improved outcomes in alphabetics and reading fluency
  • Alphabetics outcomes improved by an average of 9 percentile points
  • Reading fluency outcomes improved by an average of 12 percentile points

Best practices in implementation

  • Ensure that there is a full-time building facilitator and an adequate number of tutors to work with struggling readers.
  • Ensure that there is adequate professional development and on-site coaching to ensure high-quality implementation.
  • Make extensive use of cooperative learning throughout the school day.
  • Allow the whole school teacher staff to vote on whether to adopt SFA. Require a vote of 80 percent or more.