NCJ Number
63467
Date Published
Unknown
Length
26 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED FOR WAKULLA COUNTY'S FLORIDA ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION/EXPULSION PROJECT, A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM BASED ON GLASSER'S 'REALITY THERAPY.'
Abstract
UNDER THE PROGRAM STUDENTS ARE NOT REMOVED FROM THE MAINSTREAM SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT BUT RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR ONE HOUR DAILY. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE REGULAR CLASSROOM, INVOLVE PARENTS, AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS. FORTY-SIX PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE INCLUDED IN AN EVALUATION THAT USED THE ONE-GROUP PRETEST/POSTTEST PREEXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. IN ANALYZING DATA ON MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES THAT COULD BE EVALUATED AT THIS STAGE, PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE FOUND TO BE MET AND IN SOME CASES EXCEEDED. SITE VISITS REVEALED THAT PROJECT STAFF AND INVOLVED SCHOOL PERSONNEL ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM. FURTHER ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT IS NOT FEASIBLE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF A RANDOMLY ASSIGNED CONTROL GROUP. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE (1) HIRING A BLACK STAFF PERSON TO DEAL WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF BLACK STUDENTS; (2) USING SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRES WITH TARGET AND CONTROL GROUPS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF OTHER THAN SCHOOL-RELATED DELINQUENCY; (3) MAINTAINING MORE DETAILED RECORDS ON TARGET AND POSSIBLY CONTROL STUDENTS; (4) CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHERE ISSUES OF DISCIPLINE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE COULD BE DISCUSSED; AND (4) EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE VOLUNTEER STUDENT PARTICIPATION BY THOSE WHO HAVE PROFITED FROM THE PROGRAM. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)