IMPACT STUDY:
GOOD REASON HOUSTON
“When All Means All: Accelerating Districts and Propelling Charters Toward Citywide Education Reform”
Conducted by the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University
ABOUT THE STUDY
In 2022, Good Reason Houston commissioned a third-party impact study by the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University (CPRL) to evaluate the organization’s support of district and charter partners since inception.
Hear from Good Reason Houston CEO, Alex Elizondo, as she explains why the study was conducted and the exciting findings from the research.
FINDINGS: KEYS TO SUCCESS
Outcomes Oriented
Good Reason Houston’s consistent emphasis on outcomes rather than activities was evident across multiple strands of their work.
Boots on the Ground
School systems, in particular, value Good Reason Houston’s readiness to work side by side with staff to accomplish the task at hand.
Quality Connector
Stakeholders frequently cited Good Reason Houston’s strength in vetting and connecting partners to high-quality third-party support.
Client Centered
Good Reason Houston’s partners frequently cited Good Reason Houston’s client-centered approach as a funder and a technical assistance provider.
Reliable
Stakeholders say they can count on Good Reason Houston for quality advice and support when they need it.
READ THE REPORT
The report, When All Means All: Accelerating Districts and Propelling Charters Toward Citywide Education Reform, shows that Good Reason Houston has taken a distinctive approach to city-based education work and shown early evidence of success.
The study’s methodology included: evaluating Good Reason Houston–supported work products from partner organizations; conducting focus groups with teachers, school leaders, and families; and interviewing individuals in leadership or senior administrative positions at partner school districts, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), charter school networks, and community organizations, in addition to staff and Board members, to understand their respective experiences of working with Good Reason Houston and the impact of support provided.
ABOUT THE STUDY:
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
Dr. Lupita Hinojosa
Superintendent
Spring ISD
“The people that you’re working with [at Good Reason Houston] come with a lot of research and a lot of knowledge. They’re really smart, brilliant people, but also have the experience of being educators, and having walked in the shoes that teachers are walking in right now.”
Millard House II
Superintendent
Houston ISD
“[Good Reason Houston] has been a major support – giving us a bird’s eye view of what some like-minded organizations, or like-minded school districts, are doing; what’s working; what the research says; those things have been very, very helpful.”
Dr. LaTonya Goffney
Superintendent
Aldine ISD
“Good Reason Houston wants more high-quality seats – that’s it. But the how and the what – what I’ve loved about them is they create a space where you can dream and think about what’s best for the kids that we serve.”
Adrian Bustillos
Chief Transformation Officer
Aldine ISD
“When Good Reason Houston is coming to our table, they are bringing solution-driven answers for us to help us get where we need to go.”
Armando Orduña
Interim Executive Director
Latinos for Education
“The impact across the city of Houston by Good Reason Houston is really tangible, and it’s really really needed and just in time.”
Mark DiBella
Chief Executive Officer
YES Prep
“To a person at Good Reason Houston, I feel like they have a high bar for talent, making sure that they are bringing in like-minded, mission-aligned people who believe in the brilliance of all kids and are district/charter agnostic.”
HEAR FROM LOCAL LEADERS
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Dr. Lupita Hinojosa
Superintendent, Spring ISD
Dr. LaTonya Goffney
Superintendent, Aldine ISD
Millard House II
Superintendent, Houston ISD
Mark DiBella
CEO, YES Prep
Adrian Bustillos
Chief Transformation Officer, Aldine ISD
