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Various theories attempt to define the kinds of school organizations that best promote student success. The 'academic press' model emphasizes student individualism and instrumental motivation. In contrast, supportive school 'communitarian' models emphasize school community, democracy, and an ethic of caring as indicators of successful schools. Communitarian models apply to the problem of academic risk because they focus on fostering students' academic resilience. In a recent study of resilience in students from families of low socio-economic status, UW-Madison education professor Geoffrey Borman and colleagues found that the most powerful school characteristics for promoting resilience were represented by the supportive school community model which, unlike other school models, includes elements that actively shield children from adversity.

More about Borman's recent work is available here.