The National Longitudinal Evaluation of Comprehensive School Reform (NLECSR) is a three-year data collection effort (2002-2004) funded by the U.S. Department of Education. NORC is subcontracted to the American Institutes for Research (AIR) for the NLECSR. The study examines the effects of urban school improvement efforts, including comprehensive school reform (CSR) models, on student reading and mathematics achievement in elementary and middle schools. In doing so, the NLECSR will identify the most effective components of comprehensive school reform models and other urban school improvement efforts and note the contextual supports that contribute to effectiveness.

The NLECSR involves the collection of survey data for district officials in 21 districts and principal and teacher data in 650 schools across the U.S. NORC utilizes a mixed mode design: paper and pencil interviewing (PAPI) for all teacher respondents and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) for district officials and principals. The David C. Anchin Center at the University of South Florida, also subcontracted to AIR, conducted a Focus Study component in a select number of schools involving in-depth interviews, focus groups and classroom observations. In addition, the NLECSR involves the collection of individual student data in a subsample of districts.