"Making Middle Grades Work" ("MMGW") is a school improvement design developed by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and its member states. "MMGW" is built on research-based instructional practices and policies. The design combines challenging yet attainable goals with accountability that encourages teachers, supports students and results in a continuous improvement effort. "MMGW" is a school improvement design developed by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and its member states. "MMGW" is built on research-based instructional practices and policies. The design combines challenging yet attainable goals with accountability that encourages teachers, supports students and results in a continuous improvement effort. "MMGW" began in 1997 with an examination of middle grades education across the 16 SREB states. The result was a series of four reports. In 1996 almost 50 percent of eighth-graders in the "MMGW" network scored below the National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) Basic level 2 in mathematics, and only 35 percent of students in grade eight reported reading five or fewer pages daily. Forty-six percent of eighth-graders said they never wrote a report in science. In fact, 30 percent of mathematics and science teachers said they never asked students to write a report. Teachers who had never taken college algebra, chemistry, physics or advanced English courses were allowed to teach seventh- and eighth-grade pre-algebra, algebra, physical science and English in most SREB states. The outcome of these practices was predictable: lagging student achievement in the middle grades in mathematics, science and language arts. Following an introduction, this report is divided into two parts: (1) Major Questions Addressed in the Study; and (2) Summing It All Up. The following are appended: (1) "Making Middle Grades Work" State Coordinators and Members of "MMGW" Board of Directors; and (2) National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) Performance Levels. (Contains 10 tables, 1 figure, and 17 footnotes.)