The Efficacy Institute has developed a powerful approach to education reform based on clear, appropriate targets, belief in the capacities of children (and the adults who teach them), and use of data to evaluate progress and aid in formulation of strategy. We have refined our approach through 20 years of work in public schools, starting long before the standards movement reinforced our message. We focus on effective effort by students as the key to high-level learning, and on the use of clear targets and data to drive transformative strategies. Our approach has made significant positive inroads in some of the most challenged communities in the nation.

The Efficacy Institute prepares school and community leaders to develop all children and young adults to high standards. Specifically, we prepare leaders to:

• Build consensus among educators, service providers, parents and the community-at-large on the targeted outcomes that define success.
• Confront the crisis in confidence to achieve high standards: confidence in the abilities of our young people to achieve at high levels, and in the abilities of adults to help them do so.
• Implement a data-driven process to immediately realign resources, policies and practices to achieve 21st century educational outcomes with young people.