This evaluation, using a rigorous quasi-experimental design and conducted over six years, tracked a variety of student and staff outcomes during implementation of First Things First (FTF). Findings reflect significant improvements over the course of the evaluation in outcomes including student engagement, attendance, achievement, and graduation; as well as improvements in the quality of relationships between school staff and between teachers and students.
Additional findings show that teachers were more consistently projecting high academic and behavioral standards as well as employing more "small-grouping" instructional strategies. This evaluation further documents those factors found to be most important to the successful implementation of FTF.
