Citrus County 21 st CCLC

1. Larry Parman External Evaluator Citrus County21st CCLC Progress Report 2008-09

2. Four Goals and Seven Objectives were established for the Citrus County 21st CCLC Program Goal 1) To increase student academic achievement Objective 1.1) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in reading abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers.

3. Objective 1.2) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in math abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers. Objective 1.3) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in science abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers.

4. Goal 2) Increase the number of family involvement activity/events offered Objective 2.1) At least 75 % of regularly participating students’ family members/guardians will participate in at least one family activity, as demonstrated by such measures as sign in sheets, phone logs, and parent surveys. Objective 2.2) Each site will provide 100% of participating students’ families information about opportunities available to them throughout the school system and other local agencies, as demonstrated by such measures as sign in sheets, phone logs, and parent surveys.

5. Goal 3) Integrate recreational, social and health related activities into extended learning curriculum Objective 3.1) 80% of regularly participating students will demonstrate improved physical fitness over the course of the program year, as demonstrated by such measures as pre and post tests, President’s Physical Fitness Challenge, and student surveys. Goal 4) Integrate Character Ed. activities into the extended learning curriculum. Objective 4.1) 80% of students regularly participating in Character Ed, Violence, or Drug Prevention activities will maintain or show improvement in areas such as school attendance, classroom performance, or decreased disciplinary actions, as demonstrated by such measures as attendance records, teacher surveys, and discipline records.

6. Progress made toward each Program Objective will be addressed on the following pages. Goal 1) To increase student academic achievement Objective 1.1) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in reading abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers.

7. The intent of Objective 1.1 was for 80% of regular attendees to maintain or improve their reading skills. This objective was not met. 72% of regular attendees maintained or improved their FCAT DSS Reading Scores and 71% also maintained or improved their reading grades between the 1st and 4th quarters of 2008-09. However, the average gain on the DSS score was 82.5 points. This objective was not met even though the average gain in FCAT DSS Score was 82.5. In the opinion of this evaluator, grades are a very poor measure of student progress because of their subjective nature. Also, the first quarter of the school year is devoted primarily to review of material taught the previous year. During the fourth quarter, new and more difficult material is introduced. The following graphs illustrate gains made by students.

8. 72% of students improved their FCAT Developmental Scale Scores in Reading between 2008 and 2009

9. The average FCAT Developmental Scale Score Gain in Reading was 82.5 points between 2008 and 2009

10. 71% of students improved or maintained their Reading Grades between the 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year.

11. Objective 1.2) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in math abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers.

12. The intent of Objective 1.2 was for 80% of regular attendees to maintain or improve their math skills. This objective was not met. 71% of regular attendees maintained or improved their FCAT DSS Math Scores and 74% maintained or improved their math grades between the 1st and 4th quarters of 2008-09. However, the average gain on the DSS score was 57.8 points. This objective was not met even though the average gain in FCAT DSS Score was 57.8 points. In the opinion of this evaluator, grades are a very poor measure of student progress because of their subjective nature. Also, the first quarter of the school year is devoted primarily to review of material taught the previous year. During the fourth quarter, new and more difficult material is introduced.

13. 71% of students improved their FCAT Developmental Scale Scores in Math between 2008 and 2009

14. The average FCAT Developmental Scale Score Gain in Math was 57.8 points between 2008 and 2009

15. 74% of students improved or maintained their Math Grades between the 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year.

16. Objective 1.3) 80% of the regularly participating students (attending 30 days or more of the operational days) will maintain or show significant improvement in science abilities, as demonstrated by such measures as standardized testing, report card grades, or feedback from classroom teachers. Objective 1.3 was met. 80% of regular attendees maintained or improved their science grades between 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year.

17. 80% of regular attendees maintained or improved their Science Grades between 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year.

18. Goal 2) Increase the number of family involvement activity/events offered Objective 2.1) At least 75 % of regularly participating students’ family members/guardians will participate in at least one family activity, as demonstrated by such measures as sign in sheets, phone logs, and parent surveys. This objective was not met. There was significant family involvement in family activities, but not 80%. Site Coordinators submitted their description of their family activity each month along with parent sign in sheets. It was challenging to sort out which parents were associated with the regularly attending students. At a site coordinators meeting in early August, the staff brainstormed some ways to meet this objective in the future.

19. Objective 2.2) Each site will provide 100% of participating students’ families information about opportunities available to them throughout the school system and other local agencies, as demonstrated by such measures as sign in sheets, phone logs, and parent surveys. This objective was met. Information was provided to participating families in many ways. Information has been provided to 100% of the participating families in at least one of the following ways.

20. The district 21st CCLC website has a parent resources page: • http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/clcc/ • These are examples of topics that were made available to parents on the 21st CCLC website: • Adult Literacy Brochure211 (Citrus County) • Bus Information • Career and Technical Education • Citrus County Council PTAs • Florida School Grades • Florida's Guide to Public High School Graduation • Student Code of Conduct • Student Progression Plans • Summer Reading List • Teachingbooks.net • Teen Parent Program • WTI Program Offerings • For families who do not have internet access, Information was made available by 21st CCLC brochures at the school along with school newsletters and information in 21st CCLC registration packets.

21. Goal 3) Integrate recreational, social and health related activities into extended learning curriculum Objective 3.1) 80% of regularly participating students will demonstrate improved physical fitness over the course of the program year, as demonstrated by such measures as pre and post tests, President’s Physical Fitness Challenge, and student surveys. This objective was nearly met. 71% of students improved or maintained their level of fitness. Each of the four middle schools gave different physical fitness tests making it impossible to compare individual components of fitness. Students did improve overall but not as much as expected. Consistency in the tests used would provide a basis for comparison.

22. 71% of students improved or maintained their level of physical fitness during the 2008-09 school year.

23. Goal 4) Integrate Character Ed. activities into the extended learning curriculum. Objective 4.1) 80% of students regularly participating in Character Ed, Violence, or Drug Prevention activities will maintain or show improvement in areas such as school attendance, classroom performance, or decreased disciplinary actions, as demonstrated by such measures as attendance records, teacher surveys, and discipline records. Objective 4.1 was partially met using the proposed measures of attendance and discipline referrals. Only 51% of students maintained or improved their attendance between the 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year. 80% of regular attendees decreased or maintained their level of discipline referrals.

24. 51% of students improved or maintained their attendance levels between the 1st and 4th quarters of the 2008-09 school year.

25. 82% of students had fewer discipline referrals in the 4th quarter of the 2008-09 school year than they had in the 1st quarter.

26. Larry Parman External Evaluator Conclusions All of the Citrus County 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Objectives were met or nearly met. The project’s external evaluator, as a former teacher, coach and school administrator, realizes there is much more to education than grades and test scores. The Citrus County Program provides a positive, safe and nurturing environment for children. The full impact this Program has on participants may not be apparent until several years in the future.