About Project ACHIEVE
Innovative School Improvement & Success
Project ACHIEVE is an innovative, evidence-based continuous school improvement and success program that has been implemented in schools and districts across the country since 1990. Thousands of schools in every state in the country have implemented one or more of its components—in urban, suburban, and rural settings. . . and in the lowest to highest performing schools in the nation. Built to help implement ESEA/ESSA with impact and demonstrable outcomes, we help all districts and schools to succeed across its different student, staff, school, and state requirements--but we also specialize in helping districts and schools that need (officially or unofficially) comprehensive school improvement or turn-around assistance.
Designated as an Evidence-Based Model
Project ACHIEVE was recognized by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based model prevention program in 2000. Project ACHIEVE is listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
Recognized Effectiveness
When working with districts or schools, up to seven interdependent components can be implemented within Project ACHIEVE’s effective school improvement process:
- Component 1. Strategic Planning and Organizational Analysis and Development
- Component 2. Problem Solving, Teaming, and Consultation Processes
- Component 3. Effective School, Schooling, and Professional Development
- Component 4. Academic Instruction and Intervention (Positive Academic Services and Supports)
- Component 5. Behavioral Instruction and Intervention (Positive Behavioral Support Systems/SEL/PBIS)
- Component 6. Parent and Community Training, Support, and Outreach
- Component 7. Data Management, Evaluation, and Accountability
Its effectiveness has also been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP, 2003); the Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL, 2002); and other regional and state groups.
Success For All Schools
Project ACHIEVE has been implemented in public schools, alternative schools, special education centers, psychiatric and juvenile justice facilities, Head Start and other preschool programs, and specialized charter schools.
Project ACHIEVE Outcomes
- Positive School and Classroom Climate
- Increased Attendance and Academic Engagement
- Improved Academic Achievement
- More Effective Instruction
- Better Classroom Management
- More Prepared and Confident Teachers
- Students with Stronger Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills
- Fewer (Disproportionate) Discipline Referrals and Suspensions
- More Effective Early Academic and Behavioral Interventions
- Fewer Special Education Referrals and Placements
- Stronger Home and Community Involvement
Strategic Blueprint for Improvement
Project ACHIEVE strategically applies student, staff, and effective school "implementation blueprints" that are based on research-proven and field-tested practices, and that are individually tailored to each school and/or district. Initially, we help schools to complete meaningful needs assessments and resource analyses to determine their current needs, the approaches that are working, and the gaps that are preventing progress or success.
Project ACHIEVE then employs a whole school improvement process grounded by shared leadership, professional development (PD), and on-site consultation activities. The PD process focuses on enhancing:
(a) effective, research-based instructional and educational practices that
(b) transfer into successfully implemented skills that result in
(c) staff confidence and autonomy over time.
