We get tons of e-mails from former parents here saying we miss Success For All.
TERRY LEIJA, Principal
The Challenge
One of the strengths of the Success for All model is that it builds continuity into the academic program. If students start using SFA programs in kindergarten, it is far more likely that they will become successful readers as they progress through elementary school and beyond. Lackland Elementary, a SFA school located within the U.S. Air Force Base in Lackland, Texas, does not have the luxury of continuity: most of their students stay for only two years before their parents’ next transfer. Change is always looming on the horizon.
The Results
The SFA approach has worked well for Lackland and its transitory student population. The percentage of students reading at or above grade has hovered in the upper 90s for a decade. “We get tons of email from former parents here saying, ‘We miss SFA,’” says Leija.
Key to success is constantly reviewing and fine-tuning the program. “You have to work hard and be consistent,” says Payne. “Continually re-examine the program and make sure its fidelity is intact.”
Perhaps the most tell-tale sign of the program’s success at Lackland is the lack of discipline issues during classes in the beginning of the day during the SFA reading block. “For the first 90 minutes, the principal’s office is quiet,” says Leija.