IRONBOUND YOUTH PROJECT - INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL, IMPACT EVALUATION REPORT NO 24

• NCJ Number: 40198
• Author(s): I KWELLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 75 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-DF-02-0103
• Corporate Author: Newark Office of Criminal Justice Planning
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GOAL ACHIEVEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL, AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR DELINQUENT AND TROUBLED YOUTHS PROVIDING AN UNPRESSURED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, SMALL CLASSES, AND BASIC SKILL INSTRUCTION.

Abstract

INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ORDINARY SCHOOLS, WHICH WERE FELT TO BE SERIOUSLY DEFICIENT IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF SOME STUDENTS. THIS SCHOOL USES SMALL CLASSES AND INTENSIVE COUNSELING, AND PLACES EMPHASIS ON BASIC SKILLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERESTS AND MOTIVATION. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THIS APPROACH WOULD REDUCE TRUANCY, DROP-OUTS, AND DELINQUENCY BY PROVIDING A MORE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE SCHOOL SOUGHT TO REDUCE ATTRITION OF RECRUITED STUDENTS TO 10 PERCENT, TO KEEP RECIDIVISM ON THE PART OF RECRUITED DELINQUENT YOUTH TO 10 PERCENT, TO PREVENT NON-DELINQUENT YOUTH FROM ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, TO IMPROVE STUDENT COMPETENCY AND BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS, AND TO ENROLL 65 STUDENTS. THE PROJECT MET OR EXCEEDED ITS GOALS FOR ENROLLMENTS, DROP-OUT RATES, SPECIAL SKILLS PROGRAMS, AND RECIDIVISM OF SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS. PROBLEMS WERE NOTED IN THE AREAS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LEVELS, RECORD KEEPING, AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING CREDIT FOR BASIC SKILLS COURSES....DMC NEWARK