First Things First

First Things First was found to have no discernible effects on staying in school in its first year of implementation.

First Things First is a reform model intended to transform elementary, middle, and high schools serving significant proportions of economically disadvantaged students. Its three main components are: (1) “small learning communities” of students and teachers, (2) a family and student advocate system that pairs staff members and students to monitor and support progress and that serves as a bridge between the school and family, and (3) instructional improvements to make classroom teaching more rigorous and engaging and more closely aligned with state standards and assessments.

One study of First Things First met the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards with reservations. The quasi-experimental research design included students from Houston high schools—3 First Things First schools, each matched to 10 or 11 comparison schools. Based on this one study, the WWC considers the extent of evidence for First Things First to be small for staying in school. That study did not examine the effectiveness of First Things First in the domains of progressing in school or completing school.