Carlin Springs Community School Evaluation for 2007-2008

1. Carlin Springs Community School Evaluation for 2007-2008

2. A community school: • Uses the public school as a hub to bring together community partners to address not only academic needs, but also social, emotional, and health needs of students and their families -- before, during and after school. • An integrated focus on academics, services, and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities.

3. Carlin Springs Demographics2007-2008 • 512 students grades pre-K-12 • Approximately 30 countries represented • 78% free and reduced lunch • 63% Limited English Proficiency • 15% Asian, 16% Black (includes African), 64% Hispanic, 4% white • 100% great kids!

4. Goals and Objectives • Goal: • Improve academic performance • Four objectives • Increase opportunities for after-school activities that reinforce the curriculum • Increase parents’ involvement so they can become more effective partners in their children’s education. • Increase parents’ skills in English, literacy, and technology. • Increase access to health, mental health and social services for families

5. 2007-08 Partners • 29 partner organizations • Greenbrier Learning Center • AHC, Inc. (Harvey Hall) • Arlington, Va. Federal Credit Union • Spellbinders • Kids Café • Arlington Soccer Association • 5 grants • 45 community volunteers

6. Evaluation Data Collected multiple types of data for all students K-5 and their parents • Data to assess academic improvement • Standardized test scores (PALs and SOLs) • Teacher assessments of changes in performance in four areas: class participation, behavior, homework and academics • Data to assess family stability • Student tardiness and absenteeism

7. Evaluation Data (cont.) • Data on program participation • Parent participation in school events and parent workshops • Student participation in enrichments and/or tutoring • “Regular attendees” are students with 30 or more days of participation in enrichments and/or tutoring • Home visits, lunch buddies, and referrals

8. After-school Academic Enrichments (Objective 1) Activities: • 23 enrichments • 3 tutoring programs Offered By: • 26 teachers (paid and volunteer) • 13 community members (paid and volunteer) • 8 community organizations (PRCR, E*Trade, Educational Theater Co., 4-H, Arlington Soccer…) The idea is to reinforce and complement what is learned during the school day.

9. After-school Activities (Objective 1) Outcomes Student Participation in Tutoring and Enrichment Activities

10. After-school participants more likely to improve performance

11. Effect of Participation on Standardized Tests: Participants as likely to pass

12. After-school participants at-risk for failure more likely to pass standardized tests

13. After-school participants spend more time at school

14. Parent Involvement (Objective 2) Outreach Activities: • Principal’s Coffee (new format) • home visits • bus stop visits • calendars, flyers, stickers • evening office hours for report card explanations • Spring 07 parent survey

15. Parent Involvement (Objective 2), cont. 2007-08 Parent/Family Activities: • Back-to-School Night, Conferences • 2 Curriculum Nights • 5 Family Library Nights • Too Smart to Start and Middle School Transition Meetings for 5th grade parents • Welcome Back Picnic, Fall Festival, International Dinner, Concerts

16. Parent Involvement (Objective 2) Outcomes • 35% of parents attended Back-to-School Night • 77% attended Fall P-T conferences • 80% attended Spring P-T conferences • 86 parents attended one or more coffees • 98 parents attended one or more workshops • 187 parents attended one or more family program with educational content (e.g. Library Nights, curriculum nights) • 44 parent volunteers, 30 on a regular basis

17. Parent Involvement Outcomes, cont. • Tracked participation in eight types of parent/family events • Low involvement parents participated in 0 to 2 types • High involvement parents participated in 3 or more

18. Students with high-involvement parents more likely to improve

19. Spring 07 Parent Survey Outcomes 149 parents surveyed 49 in English, 96 in Spanish • 94% were satisfied or very satisfied with communication with school staff. • 95% agreed or strongly agreed that school staff “help me learn how to help my child succeed in school.” • 99% agreed or strongly agreed that the teacher “really cares about my child”. • 89% agreed or strongly agreed that “my child needs more opportunities for educational activities after school.”

20. Increase Parents’ Skills (Objective 3) Activities: • “Sharing the Dream” parent leadership grant • Project Family developmental playgroups • Financial Literacy Workshops • Linkages to REEP English classes • Workshops at coffees on how to support your child’s learning at home, summer learning activities, etc.

21. Areas of most interest to parents for workshops/skills (‘07 survey) Education/Job Skills: • English as a second language 62% • Using a Computer 64% • Reading skills 52% Parenting: • Child growth and development 52% • Helping my child stay healthy 58% • Discipline 63% Child’s Education: • Helping my child read 67% • Helping my child with homework and tests 62% • Helping my child with math 55% • Preparing for middle school and beyond 50%

22. Increase Parents’ Skills (Objective 3), cont. Outcomes: • Somewhat improved parent leadership • 98 parent/caregivers attended at least one Project Family playgroup at Carlin Springs (core group of about 30 pairs) • 91% of parents met parenting objectives • 59% of toddlers reached developmental milestones • 26 parents attended REEP English classes • 23 parents participated in Financial Literacy workshops • 25 parents attended PEATCY workshop • 86 parents attended one or more coffee workshops

23. Family Access to Resources (Objective 4) Areas of most interest to parents for services (‘07 survey): • Dental Services 52% • Health Care and insurance 50% • Citizenship and immigration issues 43% • Family counseling/mental health 41%

24. Family Access to Resources (Objective 4) Activities and Outcomes • Bilingual Parent Liaison made 231 referrals to community resources for families in 2007-08 • Referrals by school nurse in 2007-08: -35 students referred for dental care -52 children referred for medical care; 24 followed through. -8 referred for social services -175 students given vision screenings, with 60 referred for further evaluation • Health Fair with 10 community partners: 72 families attended, 14 families trained and received car seats

25. Family Access to Resources (Objective 4), cont. ½ time DHS Bilingual Mental Health Therapist: • Saw 30 students on a regular basis (individual and in groups) during school year and summer • Crisis support • Classroom presentations on re-unification, acculturation, bullying • Parent coffee presentations on social/emotional issues • Consultations with teachers, parents, nurse • Summer reunification lunch group with 11 students • Referrals to social services • Referred 5 parents for ongoing mental health at 3033 (none followed through)

26. Three-Year Trends: Parent Involvement

27. Three-year Trends: Tardy and Absent

28. Three-year Trends: After-school Participation

29. Challenges • Constraints on after-school activities offered: • Bus space • Qualified tutors • Family mobility • Parent availability, leadership • Sustainability

30. Conclusions • Students benefit from • after-school activities • parent involvement • family supports • Having a community school infrastructure attracts and sustains partnerships • Several factors limit potential to realize maximum benefits