(Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, and Community Education, 2003) Folkman, Daniel V.
This paper reports the progress and second year findings that flow from a multi-year action
research strategy aimed at comprehensive school reform in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A learned
helplessness model is presented as an explanation for why schools continue to struggle with
implementing comprehensive reform strategies. An alternative model is offered as a blueprint for
empowerment and learned efficacy. Examples from action research projects implemented during
the 2002-03 academic year provide evidence that substantial progress can be made in building a
learning community within the real world setting of an urban public school system.