What are People Saying about CFL?
Teachers and School Administrators

"We have a higher number of students graduating, staying through 12th grade and not dropping out in 9th grade."

- Denise Champlain
Penn Hills School District, PA

"This is an excellent model for new teachers. It helps them get oriented. For me, too. I've been teaching for 29 years, and the diagnostic-prescriptive process solved my problems."

- Cassandra Wallace
District of Columbia School District, DC

"The standards are high expectations for all students."

- Georgia Kaiser
District of Columbia School District, DC

"One of the strongest factors that I find in CFL is the fact that students really begin to develop independence. They learn to make good choices for themselves [and] they learn to accept responsibility for their own learning . . . "
- Helen Avon
Fox Chapel School District, PA

"[The process] is almost spiral or circular. We're reinforcing lessons and we're building resilience in students."
- Melissa Silva-Stehr
Philadelphia School District, PA

Policymakers

"Under my proposal 3.5 million would be used to match up 58 schools with proven education reformers like . . . the [Community for Learning program] . . . at Temple University. These are programs with a solid track record that are specifically designed to turn around failing inner schools . . . Each of these programs is based on solid research that will help local schools redesign themselves with a program of high academic standards, professional teacher development, and real parent involvement."

- Richard W. Riley
U.S. Secretary of Education
September 23, 1997

"The Center for Research in Human Development and Education's innovative approach in using research and best educational practice provides real answers for improving the academic performance of urban schools."
- Iris T. Metts
Secretary of Education
Delaware Department of Education
Parents

"I can see an improvement in my kids. They love to come to school now. In fact, they get up before me now. Even when they're sick, they want to come to school! I have three kids here at Walker-Jones, and they all made honor roll."

- Wanda Toliver
Walker-Jones Elementary School, Washington, DC

"My son's first year in high school he did very well. He is now in tenth grade and interested in architecture. . . The CFL program prepared him to work independently. The inclusion model built his self-esteem and made him confident. I'm appreciative of the opportunities provided to him at Stetson."
- Ines Vega
Stetson Middle School, Philadelphia, PA

"I think using the instructional piece of CFL, especially prescriptions for math, has enabled my son to move along at a quicker pace, allowing him to be challenged and learn more."

- Sally Shirr
Forbes Elementary School, Penn Hills, PA
Researchers

"The [Community for Learning] approach addresses some of the most important aspects of school improvement through guidance and technical assistance from one of the nation's leading educational research and development centers."

- Edmund Gordon, John M. Musser Professor
of Psychology, Emeritus, Yale University

"The Community for Learning program exemplifies the strong points of the work of CRHDE - forging close collaboration with schools in support of their efforts to achieve high academic standards for each student, and focusing on teacher knowledge and high-quality teaching based on evidence from research."

- Robert Glaser, University Professor
Founding Director of the Learning Research
and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh