NCJ Number
66289
Date Published
1979
Length
60 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EVALUATES FOUR NEW JERSEY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PROJECTS DESIGNED TO PREVENT DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE FOUR PROJECTS WERE FUNDED BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY THE PROJECT INCLUDED MULTIPLE TRUANCIES AND SUSPENSIONS, ABSENTEEISM, SCHOOL VANDALISM, AND LOW ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE PROJECTS WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW STUDENT-TOTEACHER RATIOS, SEPERATE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES, WHEN NEEDED. DATA WERE COLLECTED ON ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROJECTS FOR PART OF OR ALL OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR (SEPTEMBER 1977 TO JUNE 1978). DATA WERE COLLECTED BY INFORMAL OBSERVATION, LITERATURE REVIEWS, FORMAL QUESTIONNAIRES, AND INTERVIEWS. DATA INCLUDED SUCH INFORMATION AS ATTENDANCE PATTERNS, REFERRALS TO JUVENILE COURT, AND SCORES ON MATHEMATICS AND READING TESTS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE FOUR PROJECTS SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, GIVING THEM PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION AND ATTENTION, AND FOSTERING STUDENT PROGRESS ALTHOUGH MORE DATA WOULD BE NEEDED TO DETERMINE SPECIFIC PROJECT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, THE PROJECT SERVICES HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT. PROJECTS SHOULD DEVELOP TIES WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES WHICH COULD BECOME REFERRAL AGENCIES, AND STUDENTS SHOULD BE TESTED FORMALLY UPON ENTRANCE INTO THE PROGRAM AND PERIODICALLY DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. PROJECTS SHOULD MAINTAIN DAILY RECORDS TO DETERMINE EFFECTS ON STUDENT SUSPENSIONS AND ABSENCES, AND SPECIFIC CRITERIA SHOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR TERMINATING AND AND MAINSTREAMING STUDENTS INTO REGULAR SCHOOL TO AVOID READJUSTMENT PROBLEMS. REGULAR FOLLOWUP CONTACT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED WITH ALL PARTICIPANTS AFTER TERMINATION. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROJECTS, TABLES, FOOTNOTES, A REFERENCE LIST, AND AN APPENDIX PRESENTING ADDITIONAL DATA AND THE STUDY INSTRUMENTS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)