Since 1988, more than 500 teachers in more than 95 urban schools have helped literally thousands of students find their voices as writers. Each year, elementary, middle, and high school students join together on the Rice University campus to read their writings. Some are short stories, poetry, dramas, or songs reflecting the voices of the young writers. Their work is then published in a student and teacher anthology entitled "Impressions." The School Writing Project makes writers of children from every kind of school, family circumstance, and cultural background.

School Writing Project teachers actively search for ways to engage their students in writing. In weekly seminars over 10 weeks, teachers develop their own writing skills through sharing, visiting successful School Writing Project classrooms, and reading research on writing, literacy, and curriculum development. School Writing Project teachers also have access to the Center's School Writing Project library of more than 1,000 books on teaching reading and writing.

A research survey performed in an area school district found that students of School Writing Project teachers performed better on standardized tests than students of teachers who did not participate in the program. School Writing Project instructional practices promote the critical writing and reading skills needed for success on the TAKS test and for good, strong student writing in all subjects.