Teacher education, A Framework for Understanding Poverty

School Programs - Research Results

Since 1996, aha! Process has helped more than 1000 schools raise achievement and build success for students and staff. We've worked with more than 115 schools on multi-year projects. For data on our work, please review the following pages:

Research Base
The research base of aha! Process’ work on poverty draws from several sources and disciplines. This work is an additive model that recognizes and values the assets of people from all economic classes. In addition, it identifies skills, theories of change, and ways to build schools where students achieve.
- Explanation of the research base of A Framework for Understanding Poverty
- Bibliographies from A Framework for Understanding Poverty and Research-Based Strategies

Scientific Reports
These studies assess the impact of the School Improvement Model on student achievement and other related topics.
- View "The School Improvement Model’s Impact on Student Achievement—A National Study"
- View school reports on research-based results of aha! Process' work
- View NFER Evaluation of 'Framework for Understanding Poverty' initiatives
- View report on successes at Ridgeroad Middle Charter School
- View report on successes at Lowndes County Schools
- If interested in viewing the model fidelity instruments associated with these studies, please contact us at research@ahaprocess.com, and we will be glad to send you a copy.

External review
An external review of nine research reports on the School Improvement Model led by Dr. C. Thomas Holmes of the University of Georgia has been completed. Dr. Holmes, along with four other reviewers, concluded that the design employed in these studies was appropriate, the statistical tests were well chosen and clearly reported, and the author’s conclusions followed directly from the obtained results. Full-text of Dr. Holmes’s report.


Issue #01 – RRMCS 2008 Issue #02 – MISD 2009 Issue #03 – NLR Math 2009 Issue #04 – MISD CFK Year 1 Issue #05 – MISD Read by 5 Issue #06 – Kepner 2009 Issue #07 – South Brandywine Issue #08 – MISD CFK Year 2 Issue #09 – 7th Street Elementary Issue #10 – NLR Math 2010 Issue #11 – North Brandywine Issue #12 – Allen ISD	Issue #13 – Winfield Elementary – Tucker Issue #14 – RRMCS 2010 Issue #15 – Cabot JH North Issue #16 – MISD Science 2010 Issue #17 – West Lowndes 2010 Issue #18 – Allen ISD Issue #19 – Ft. Worth CAN! Academy Issue #20 – Goose Creek Memorial HS Issue #21 – Huntsville ISD Issue #22 – Bedford Elementary Issue #23 – Bedford Middle School Issue #24 – Elephant's Fork Elementary

For Higher Education results, click here.

Research to Practice
Here are aha! Process, Inc. research findings and contributions to community and educational programs. These briefs provide an understanding of our measurable research outcomes.

What Others Say
Firsthand testimonials from individuals who have used the School Improvement Model.
"We received our state test scores, and our students who were at 30% in literacy are now at 50%, which is a 20-point gain in a year! In math, our students made a 9-point gain. We’re celebrating thanks to aha! Process!"

–Lenisha Broadway, Principal, Ridgeroad Charter Middle School, AR

Read more testimonials.

aha! Process is always seeking feedback on how these strategies help schools. If you have data demonstrating the effectiveness of A Framework for Understanding Poverty in improving student performance, please share it with us. We are particularly interested in action research studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methodology approaches. If you have a study that you would like to share, please send it to the attention of Alecia Chapman, Manager of Educational Services, at research at ahaprocess.com.