The Broader, BOLDER Approach to Education – A Case Study of Bright Futures in Joplin, Missouri
In the realm of education, it’s results that count. Progress indicators range from graduation rates to overall attendence to reportable discipline incidents to test scores. When administrators look to implement new programs or systems, they want to know what kind of results they can expect from the time and financial investments that will go into them. While the Bright Futures Framework is dedicated to not only the academic success of children, but also their overall health and happiness, our affiliate communities have seen significant gains in various progress indicators.
Recently, The Broader, Bolder Approach to Education examined the impact of the Bright Futures Framework on the students and community in Joplin, Missouri, our founding community. They take a comprehensive approach to their analysis of Bright Futures Joplin, including both the measurable successes as well as the challenges faced in implementing the framework.
What they found is that Joplin’s ACT scores increased 14% from 2008 to 2012, high school graduation rates increased 13% from 77% to 87% between 2012 and 2015, and cohort dropout rate fell from 6.4% to 2.8% over the same years. In addition to the measurable academic gains, the study found that volunteerism is up 700% from 2008 to 2012, with community partnerships up 850% over the same period.
To find out more about the successes and challenges faced by Bright Futures Joplin, head over to The Broader, Bolder Approach to Education and read the full case study, Bright Futures in Joplin, Missouri.