NCJ Number
70080
Date Published
1972
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Texas Juvenile Achievement Center project demonstrated that the contingency management, individual instruction, and peer tutor approach is an effective means of reshaping academic and social behaviors.
Abstract
The Juvenile Achievement Center School aimed to provide intensive skill training and increase juveniles' motivation to reshape their behavior so that they could return successfully to their peer group in the public schools. During the year August 30, 1971, to July 28, 1972, 30 students between 11 and 14 years of age whose school history showed unacceptable social and academic behavior were selected (with help from the California Achievement Test) to follow the program. The program techniques included the use of contingency management system of reinforcement, a structural individual curriculum where students could move at their own pace on a contract basis, and the use of peer tutors to provide one-to-one instruction in certain skill areas. An incentive system allowed them to earn points for positive academic and social behaviors, points which could be spent during the recreation period. The physical facility allowed for a large classroom, a staff counselor's office, an indoor and an outdoor recreation area, and a shop for painting, clay, woodwork, welding, and other activities. Two classroom teachers and one teacher-aide were provided by the Waco Independent School District, and the Western Institute for Science and Technology provided additional help. At the end of the year the 30 students were returned to the public schools. Two of the students were placed for further intensive guidance; of the 28 remaining students, 17 had achieved the necessary social and academic skills to skip a grade, 3 who were nonreaders were returned to the Juvenile Achievement Center School, and the remainder were returned to peer grade level in public school. This program should be operated for a third year in order to obtain additional data before generalizing this already evidently successful program to other population settings. Moreover, during the third year, a manual should be developed to aid the replication processes.