Noble Middle School is not part of BARR’s validation grant, but Principal Mike Roberts was persuaded to adapt it for middle school. “It’s one of the first times in education I’ve really seen an experiment taking place in a school and the results have been pretty impressive,” Roberts said. “Our attendance is better, the test results are better, the discipline is much better.” Last year, students in the BARR program had 400 total absences; those not in the program had 800. “This doesn’t feel like the next academic fad—it feels like this is something Noble does, who we are.” Tripp, one of Bucksport High School’s first BARR teachers, feels the same. He became principal of Bucksport Middle School this year and has started rolling out BARR there, too.
EdWeek: In Maine, Intervention Smooths 9th Graders’ Paths
