With so many questions raised about the best ways to reach and teach our children, the results of a 15-year study may offer valuable insight about successful schools.

About 20 years ago, researchers founded the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago to undertake independent research on Chicago's school system. The time was ripe for a study, as the public school system had recently become decentralized, giving more power and resources to parents and communities to transform their schools.

The original study, which focused on the period from 1990 to 1996, was duplicated with data from 1997 to 2005, after control of the school system went to the mayor's office.

The researchers compared approximately 200 schools--the 100 that showed the most improvement on standardized tests and school attendance, as well as the 100 that fared the worst. The analysis identified five "ingredients" common to the most successful schools:

1) Principals who are "strategic, focused on instruction, and inclusive of others in their work";

2) A welcoming attitude toward parents, and connections with the community;

3) Quality teaching staff, teachers' belief that schools can change, and participation in good professional development and collaborative work;

4) A learning climate that is safe, welcoming, stimulating, and nurturing to all students;

5) Strong instructional guidance and materials.

The findings showed that while each of these ingredients on its own could account for some improvement, a combination of ingredients multiplied the success dramatically.

I imagine you weren't surprised that these five factors were key to success--I know I wasn't. And while it may seem obvious that these ingredients are needed for schools to be successful, there still are far too many schools lacking in several of them. How many of these ingredients are present at your school?