Guest post by Melissa McCoy for StriveTogether<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The data is stark: Our schools are not preparing every student to succeed in life. Seeking change, educators try programs and initiatives to improve outcomes for kids. These reform efforts often treat students the same, using widespread, one-size-fits-all approaches. But each student is unique and a few solutions are finally adopting a new approach: Start small to go big.<\/p>\n

In Spartanburg, South Carolina, leaders are shifting to this approach. They are harnessing the power of one \u2014 focusing improvement on one<\/em> student, one<\/em> day, with one<\/em> learning objective \u2014 with the support of a community partnership called Spartanburg Academic Movement<\/a> (SAM). Business and industry have led improvement efforts this way since the 1950s, with health care eventually following suit. Now, education and social systems are also starting small to go big.<\/p>\n