This report outlines the characteristics that appear to make the process of action research effective in improving student outcomes and summarizes some strategies that practitioners believe can be transferred using the process. Part 1 describes the process followed by the successful projects and shares the insights they gained. Characteristics that correlate with a high degree of success are organized in line with these five stages of the action research process: analysis; planning and preparation; action, monitoring, adjusting; evaluation; and "next steps." Part 2 summarizes intervention strategies applied during action research and outlines some issues colleges reported during their implementation. A table lists the strategy with corresponding comments, a collation of the insights gained by the colleges. The appendix gives a list of colleges participating in the Round 2 program and a list of 41 references on the nature and use of action research and case study methods in educational research. (YLB)