After School Program Plus +
Allegany County Board of Education
108 Washington Street
Cumberland, Maryland 21502
August 17, 1997
Youth Prevention Activities Coordinator
Name: Harry P. Smith
Title: Principal, Washington Middle School
Organization: Allegany County Board of Education
Address: Washington Middle School 200 Massachusetts Avenue, Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone Number: 301-777-5360
Fax Number: 301-777-8452
New Program
- a. The disadvantaged youth in grades 6, 7, and 8 at Washington Middle School as identified in the school lunch program who are recommended by parents and staff for inclusion will be the major focus of this program. Sixty students will be the maximum number that can be accommodated in this after school program.
b. We will identify at risk students through student attendance records which demonstrate high truancy rates and thus place children at risk of academic and social failure. We will also use the program attendance lists for the at-risk programs at South Penn and John Humbird Elementary Schools. Identification will also be through Allegany County Board of Education’s Pupil Personnel Workers, Allegany County Health Department staff and Maryland’s local Juvenile Justice staff recommendations. School principals and staff will also be asked to identify at risk students that would benefit through the services offered by this program. Recruitment of our at risk population will be through a structured series of promotional efforts targeted at parents, guardians, extended family members and the students. We will provide an overview of the programs goals and objectives along with proposed education based cultural/ recreational programs for the year. Ongoing press releases regarding the success of our program will encourage potential children to join our venture. Word of mouth plays a important role in influencing at risk students to join school based programs. Our current successes at John Humbird and South Penn Elementary Schools will help drive participation in our new and extended program.
2. Program Location - Washington Middle School will be the home base for the After School Plus+ program with an outreach segment at the police substation located in the heart of the HotSpot Community. The children will walk home after the middle school program which is the same model they used in the elementary after school program. Children who are at the school will move to the designated area after the regular school day. Other children in the service area must be transported by family members or through arrangements put in place by their parents, guardians or extended family members. When the program day is complete the same conditions apply to transporting the children home, responsible adults within the home environment are responsible for picking them up at the project site. 3. Program Hours - The After School Plus+ program will operate from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. three days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) per week for 37 weeks.
4. Activities to be provided - Research based activities for our at-risk students will include:
Tutoring and academic skills building through the use of computers to gain knowledge in the areas of writing and math. We will also focus on the daily homework as tutoring support for the children.
Community service and/ or service learning projects will take place for the participants through the programming identified by our Service Learning Coordinator, Karen V. King. Students in this program will be encouraged to acquire their service learning hours by serving as role models, tutors and mentors for our latchkey and at- risk students. The existing Service Learning program, "What Counts" is part of our curriculum. Promotion of this concept begins in the elementary schools and is infused in grades six, seven and eight. This program is based in providing opportunities for students to experience the joy of making a difference in society. Students could be recipients of service in this after school program or givers of care and understanding for the program’s participants since the service learning credits are required for graduation.
Structured mentoring/ role modeling activities are part of our existing after school targeted poverty program. We will continue this successful concept at the three additional sites. Local academic institutions, law enforcement agencies , corporations and civic clubs will encourage their staff members to volunteer time to visit the sites serving as role models and provide specific programs which support the programs goals and objectives. Our service learning students will be encouraged to gain both understanding and credit hours by participating in this needed after school program.
Social competency skill development programs will be offered as cultural enrichment activities based on curriculum objectives. Success in the areas of computer skills, homework, reading, math and writing all add to the social skills of the participants. Recreational skills like the ability to swim, play tennis or take part in board games support the ability of children to enjoy a variety of socialization activities that would not normally be available to the at- risk population.
Family management skills training programs and/ or family activities that teach, model and reinforce family management skills will be conducted in cooperation with the local PTA’s and social services agencies. Required participation by parents, guardians or extended family members responsible for the child will assure delivery of the information related to family management. Programs specifically designed to prevent: truancy, drug, alcohol, and substance abuse will be given by local agencies that have specific responsibilities and expertise in these areas.
5. Description of Activities -
Purpose:
a. Tutoring and academic skills building through the use of computers to gain knowledge in the areas of writing and math. We will also focus on the daily homework as tutoring support for the children.
b. Community service and/ or service learning projects will take place for the participants through the programming identified by our Service Learning Coordinator, Karen V. King. Students in this program will be encouraged to acquire their service learning hours by serving as role models, tutors and mentors for our latchkey and at- risk students. The existing Service Learning program, "What Counts" is part of our curriculum. Promotion of this concept begins in the elementary schools and is infused in grades six, seven and eight. This program is based in providing opportunities for students to experience the joy of making a difference in society. Students could be recipients of service in this after school program or givers of care and understanding for the program’s participants since the service learning credits are required for graduation.
c. Structured mentoring/ role modeling activities are part of our existing after school targeted poverty program. We will continue this successful concept at the three additional sites. Local academic institutions, law enforcement agencies , corporations and civic clubs will encourage their staff members to volunteer time to visit the sites serving as role models and provide specific programs which support the programs goals and objectives. Our service learning students will be encouraged to gain both understanding and credit hours by participating in this needed after school program.
Risk/resiliency factors it will impact:
Risk factors (reduction)
Tutoring and academic skills building activities will impact on school performance through success in promotion/ retention in grade and attachment to positive adults and peers.
Community service and/ or service learning projects activities will impact on commitment to education and employment. Social bonding, peer group acceptance/ rejection, peer leadership and citizenship skills will also be positively changed through this activity.
Structured mentoring/ role modeling activities will impact encouraging self management skills and attachment to positive adults and peers.
Resiliency factors (increase)
Tutoring and academic skills building activities will promote attachment to school, commitment to education, self- management skills and social bonding.
Community service and/ or service learning projects activities will strengthen social bonding, social competency skills, and attachment to the community.
Structured mentoring/ role modeling activities will decrease association with negative peers and attitudes favorable to rejecting drug use and violence.
Past experience/success providing the activity:
Allegany County Public School system has successfully operated two after school programs at South Penn Elementary and John Humbird Elementary Schools for the past several years. The two elementary schools which are in the HotSpot community will serve as feeder schools for this project. This programming will continue what has been in place at the elementary level and build on the previous successes.
How many youth will participate:
Over 100 participants will benefit from this grant since Service Learning students from the local high will assist in the program.
How frequently it will be provided:
The program will be operated three days per week.
Staffing required:
Staff for this project will include two professional teachers at each site supported by parent volunteers, Service Learning students and partnership agencies. Between the leadership of the teaching staff and expertise of the partnership agencies the skills needed to accomplish the stated goals are in place. If additional specific needs are identified as the program forges forward community support mechanisms are in place complete with effective lines of communication.
How will program effectiveness be assessed:
Process evaluation will measure activities, services, processes, procedures that the project performs will be part of the ongoing record keeping in preparation for the annual report. Outcome evaluation which measure the impact on the participant’s behavior and levels of risk and resiliency will be in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. But standard measures such as grades, attendance, and non-involvement with the a negative police presence will be used to measure impact of the program.
6. Program Staffing: There will be three teachers who will be part-time paid staff on this project. Three volunteer coordinators will also be part of this program. There will be approximately 40 Service Learning students helping the children through out the year. Fifty adult community volunteers and parents will also help with activities.
A. Proposed staff recruitment, orientation and training activities: We will provide as part of our staff development program recognition of the MSPAP goals with methodology to achieve the objectives. Specific problems or corrective measures that need to be implemented due to evaluative instruments will be addressed. Community resources to meet special training needs include: social service organizations, civic groups, academic institutions and The Western Maryland Professional Development Center who will be asked for assistance to provide on-going staff development for teachers and informational programs for parents.
B. Proposed volunteer recruitment, orientation and training activities: Recruitment for volunteer assistance will be through the office of the principal in cooperation with the paid staff. Volunteers will also be recruited by: Hot Spot leaders who provide letters of request for assistance sent home with children, principals and administrative staff asking individuals they know for support, advertising on Board of Education’s Home Page, newspaper article requesting help for our children, recommendations of social agencies and civic clubs, and appeals to corporate and academic institutions. Parent volunteers who will work on activities will need training by the staff development team. The Director and teaching staff will provide orientation to all new volunteers through the use of handbook to be created specifically for this purpose. Orientation of volunteers will also be with the assistance of the, Volunteer Training Manual (handbook), which will be developed by the paid staff. The Director and teaching staff will provide orientation to all new volunteers through the use of this handbook .
C. Staff and volunteer supervision: We will utilize our current state structured School Improvement Committee (Team) (SIT) at Washington Middle School. This team of lead teachers identify problems related to the students and provide written school improvement plans to correct learning deficiencies. This has a positive impact on the students scores on the Maryland State test. Responsibilities will include recommendations for curricular change and proposed field trips which meet a critical need in the educational programming at the school. The teams recommendations regarding outcomes will be used to help the HotSpot Committee supervise the paid and volunteer staff.
D. What is the proposed staff to student ratio: 10 students to 1 staff member will be our proposed ratio for the After School Plus+ program.
- Community planning and oversight of the after school program will be in conjunction with the school SIT committee and regular scheduled meetings between the school staff and parents. Ongoing dialog will be encouraged related to the program which will include needed changes to better serve the children.
Groups who pare providing cash or in-kind contributions to the program: Allegany County Board of Education will provide staff time, facilities, equipment and needed services to this program.
F. Active involvement of parents in the after school program:
Parents will be required to attend the year end Friday fun/ educational activity. They will also be encouraged to volunteer to work with the computer lab which will build their awareness of new technology and improve their family management skills. Parent volunteers will be asked to function as teacher assistants within the classroom. Typical duties include: form preparation, duplication of needed materials, individual assistance for students, creation of art materials for projects, filing of documentation papers, serving as role model for participants, support of program to community at large. We will use our Allegany County Home Page to request help from our community. Special events and demonstrated needs will be shared through our electronic town crier. Parents will be encouraged to gain an awareness of the computer labs capabilities to support their children’s educational opportunities. Internet will be utilized within this setting to drive interest and support our curriculum goals. Since most parents have not been involved or exposed to this great reference source the, "What’s new?" question will encourage attendance by the parents in support of the children.
We will provide an expansion of our current successful extended day program for at risk students at South Penn and John Humbird Elementary Schools. This program was made possible by the award of a Targeted Poverty Grant. We will expand and provide a continuum for this program through our project initiative. John Humbird and South Penn Elementary Schools feed into Washington Middle School which has no after school program for the Targeted Poverty Grant recipients. All three schools receive students from the targeted Hot Spots zone. Our new fee based program, After School Plus+ will provide the needed connection between the schools and community. Our county which is experiencing a 48.8% increase in Early Age Offenders as of 1993-94, unemployment at 8.5 % which impacts on the cycle of crime, needs index, based on free and reduced lunch for the month of October 1996 of, breakfast at 1721 and lunch at 5581 of 11,000 students needs support to prevent and reduce crime.
Professional teachers, volunteers and community members will provide role models and mentoring. Parents will be involved through special Friday fun/ educational projects based on preset milestones.. Programming using the four research based activities: homework, math, reading and writing, will afford students the opportunities to participate in enrichment, background building activities and to work on computer programs which will enhance their academic achievement, emotional development and performance on our state wide test (MSPAP). Community collaboration through the Hot Spots Committee will assure success of our program goals. Many of our students do not have parents who will provide them with learning opportunities or with rewarding enrichment activities due to family economic conditions. Therefore the After School Plus+ Program will benefit these children by providing them directed learning activities in a safe environment.
Weekly Schedule Of Program Activities
Monday
3:00 - 4:00 home work assistance
4:00 - 5:00 computer lab focus on math skills
5:00 - 6:00 computer lab focus on productivity skills
Wednesday
3:00 - 4:00 home work assistance
4:00 - 5:00 computer lab focus on writing
5:00 - 6:00 reading with mentors or role model helpers
Friday
3:00 - 4:00 home work assistance
4:00 - 5:00 fun educational event
5:00 - 6:00 fun educational event
Program will begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 6:00 p.m.