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Home My WebLink About1997-09-02 - AGENDA REPORTS - STUDENT PROGRAM RPT (2)ice FROM: DATE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Hamilton C. Smyth; Mayor, and George Caravalho, City Manages September 2, 1997 ars SUBJECT: STUDENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM REPORT BACKGROUND In 1994, the City of Santa Clarita, the William S. Hart Union High School District and the Los Angeles County Board of Education initiated the Student Partnership Program (SPP) which offers students an opportunity to continue their education when they have been unsuccessful in the traditional school system. The students may have been unsuccessful due to poor attendance, family problems, substance abuse, or other such problems. The City Council approved a budget of $50,000 per year for the past three years to help with the cost of school supplies for the students and maintenance of the facility. The funds also pay for field trips, a licensed counselor to be on site with the students, and a stipend for the students' off campus work assignments. The SPP offers the student a chance to better themselves through a smaller student -to -teacher ratio, community service opportunities, individual and group counseling, and on-site job experience. The program opens a door for at -risk youth to fully participate in a learning -service educational model. To measure academic success, grade levels in reading and math are evaluated as students enter and leave the program. According to the 1996-1997 SPP evaluation, the average reading level of students in the program rose from a 6.8 to a 8.7 grade level. Once grade level improvement information can be attained from the William S. Hart Union High School District about students in the traditional setting, a comparison can take place. The ultimate goal of the program is to have students return to the traditional setting and achieve academic and personal success. In 1997, ninety percent of the students in the program returned to the traditional school setting in only one semester. Every year student progress is evaluated by the SPP on the goals the students set for themselves upon entering the program. The students fill out questionnaires at the beginning of the year and list goals for themselves such as "change trouble -causing behaviors" and "return to home/school in oneltwo semesters." Review of behavior reports from the program and at their off -campus job sites, participation in counseling, and other measures are used to evaluate their progress towards achieving gheir goals. The SPP empowers students, encouraging them to believe in themselves and to become productive members of the community. Staff of the program would like the opportunity to present a report to the Mayor and the Council at the September 2, 1997, Study Session. 7 .. 1 r ",`, �i►� .A PA RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Mayor and the City Council receive, comment on, and file the Student Partnership Report. ATTACHMENT The 1996-1997 Student Partnership Program Evaluation. HH:ral spp\sldyses.mem STUDENT PARTNERSHIP 1996-1997 EVALUATION JULY 1997 STUDENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 1996-1997 EVALUATION STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT In September of 1996 the Student Partnership student's were assessed in reading comprehension (McCall-Crabbs standard tests in reading) and mathematics (Woodcock Johnson). The average student at the Student Partnership tested at a 6.8 grade level in reading comprehension when tested in September. The average score improved to a 8.7 grade level upon retest in June. The average math score was at a 7.3 grade level in September and rose to 8.1 grade level in June. The Student Partnership Program returned 16 students in June 1997 to the district schools. Of those students, 12 were tenth graders and 4 were ninth graders. STUDENT ATTENDANCE Our students entered with an average of 30% absentee rate. The perfect attendance group represented 20% of our total student population. Ninety percent of our students had excellent attendance. DISCIPLINE AND CLIMATE FOR LEARNING The Student Partnership Program developed a discipline plan for students which addressed the policies and regulations of the host district, William S. Hart. The plan is communicated to all students and parents in writing at the beginning of the school year and is evaluated throughout the year. The goal of discipline is self-discipline. A great deal of importance is placed on maintaining a safe environment conducive to effective learning. Our students clearly understand the rules by which they must abide. Among the most important are: prohibition of any dangerous objects, the prohibition against the possession, use, sale, giving, or being under the influence of alcohol or any other proscribed substance. Also enforced are the high standards set by our dress and grooming regulations. These all contribute to maintaining a safe, focused, and orderly school environment. School rules are enforced and progressive discipline consequences occur for infractions. For more serious misconduct, pupils may be suspended from school. Students which refuse to conform to school rules are either returned to the host district or complete the semester in an independent study program run by the county. CLASS SIZE The Student Partnership has a ratio of 20 to 1. We have two teachers, one instructional assistant, a full time counselor, and an on site probation officer, as well as clerical and administrative support. We feel the smaller student -teacher ratio has a positive effect on our students. TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS The students adhere to the district curriculum with modifications made to ensure success by all students. The students have access to 16 Macintosh computers with CD -Rom. These computers are equipped with several thousand dollars worth of software. We are integrating technology across the curriculum. STUDENT ACTIVITIES The Student Partnership Program has field learning experiences once a month to various locations such as: whale watching, Chino Prison, horseback riding, Castaic Lake. SERVICE LEARNING The Student Partnership Program includes a service learning program. The City pays the students $1.00 an hour and the students have the opportunity to work up to six hours a week. The students are held accountable at their work sites with mandatory check-in policy as well as random drop-in by instructors. In 1996-97 the students as a group earned an estimated $3000. The students that struggle at their work site for any reason are brought back to campus and counseled before returning to the work force. These students might return on a modified schedule of once a week until hey begin toexhibit responsibility. One student has earned permanent employment on his sixteenth birthday with McDonalds. Job sites include: EXPRESS PRIMOS PIZZA STRUCTURE OAK TREE DELI HOPE FOR A FIND TAGS PET SUPPLY MCDONALDS IADARP, VILLAGE PET DEL TACO LOCAL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BARNES AND NOBLE HOBBY TOWN ORCHARD SUPPLY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB VIDEO DEPOT COUNSELING AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Our program includes a full-time, on site counselor who meets both individually and in the group setting with the students. She provides counseling in drug- intervention, crisis counseling as well as a myriad of problems that our youth are faced with. PROBATION SERVICES A gang alternative prevention officer has enrolled most of our students in a prevention program. The officer provides individual and group intervention services. SPP GOALS AND SUMMARY STATISTICS Total number of students 38 achieved by... GOAL 1: Improve their grades within one semester 95% GOAL 2: Identify and begin to change the trouble causing behaviors 80% GOAL 3: Set personal goals relating to school, graduation, higher 86% education and employment GOAL 4: Learn decision making and conflict resolution skills 82% GOAL 5: Return to their home school in one semester 55% GOAL 5B: Return to their home school in two semesters 85%