Children Inc. | Growing Sound » School Age

Covington After School Programs Implement Literacy-Rich Curriculum

Jordan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:52:33 +0000

Children in Covington Elementary schools; Laronia, 9th District, 6th District, Glenn O. Swing and John G. Carlisle are gearing up for academic success. This school year, thanks to the collaboration between the Kenton County Library and Children, Inc., Covington’s elementary students are making great strides in reading and math. High school students from Holmes High School that participate in the Bulldogs Give Back program are providing one-to-one tutoring for kids while the library provides on-site support at after school programs throughout Covington.

Once a month the students are visited by the Kenton County Public Library and staff members Kim Thompson and Elizabeth Harden spend an hour reading with the children and doing enrichment activities. During this time, the children can also check out books to take home. The goal of the partnership is to get every elementary student reading 6 books each month.

Beginning next week, students from Holmes will tutor children in math and reading once a week that need extra help. Through this program, Children, Inc. hopes to improve the reading and math scores of elementary students throughout Covington.

Furthermore, Children, Inc. has grown the number of schools in Covington offering computer labs from one to four. Four days a week, elementary students in our after school programs work on a computer program called Compass Odyssey, where they can improve both reading and math skills.

This is an exciting partnership and program and we are happy to say that Covington students are well on their way to mastering reading and math.

Preschool Program Improves Standardized Test Scores Through Grade 5

Jordan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:53:04 +0000

ScienceDaily (Oct. 6, 2011) — Continued participation in the Harrisburg Preschool Program (HPP) has led 5th-grade students to score higher on Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) literacy and math tests than peers who have not participated in the HPP program, according to the final evaluation of the HPP initiative by the Prevention Research Center at Penn State.

HPP is a collaborative program involving the Harrisburg School District and Capital Area Head Start, which provides comprehensive, high-quality preschool services to at-risk children in the Harrisburg area.

“This evaluation has demonstrated substantial long-term effects of the HPP program on children’s reading and math achievement,” said Mark Greenberg, principal investigator of the evaluation and director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development at Penn State. “The fact that this advantage has now been documented on the state’s standardized achievement tests through 5th grade is additional evidence that preschool is critical for disadvantaged children, not only for their school readiness but for their longer-term achievement.

“The program was created as central components of former superintendent Dr. Gerald Kohn’s plan to improve child development and academic outcomes.”

According to the evaluation, in the 5th grade, the PSSA math scores for children who attended preschool had an average standardized score of 1243, while children in the comparison group had an average score of 1188. Thirty-five percent of HPP students were found to be advanced or proficient, while only 19 percent of non-attendees attained similar results. In all, the number of students advanced or proficient in mathematics increased by 50 percent.

A similar pattern emerged for reading scores. Children who attended preschool had an average score of 1133, while the comparison group had an average score of 1071. More students also were found to be advanced or proficient in reading achievement — 22 percent among HPP attendees versus 8 percent among non-attendees, for a 175 percent increase. Both math and reading scores for children who attended the HPP program were significantly higher than those for children in the comparison group.

These findings indicate that enrollment in this preschool program is having significant long-term effects on children’s learning outcomes.

“The HPP program has the important elements of high-quality preschool,” Greenberg said. “This includes well-trained and well-equipped teachers; a vital and challenging curriculum in literacy, math and social emotional development; and a caring, supportive classroom environment that nurtures the learning of young children.”

The HPP evaluation is directed by Greenberg and Celene Domitrovich, assistant director, Penn State Prevention Research Center, and supported by funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The evaluation of HPP ended in June 2011, when all students completed the 5th grade.

The Harrisburg Preschool Program was established in 2002 with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a strong partnership with Keystone Children’s Services, Inc. (Head Start).

Real Life Success Story: School Age Services

Jordan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:08:04 +0000

As a first grader, Sam was very nervous to leave his kindergarten and attend elementary school. His first week in the after school program was difficult. He had trouble forming relationships with the staff and would start fights with the other students. The staff worked to establish clear routines and structure for Sam. They helped him form new friendships by encouraging the children to share their interests and experiences. Sam soon began to find friends who shared his love of sports. He now plays cooperatively with other children. He also seeks help from the after school staff to complete his homework. The Children, Inc. after school program not only allows Sam’s parents to know he is safe after school but also gives Sam the skills he needs to be successful in school.

100% of children participated in at least one service learning project which engages children in service activities that reinforces their learning of concepts taught in school and benefits the community.
100% of youth in our programs participated in KIDSLIT, homework assistance, and nutrition and exercise .
98% of parents would recommend this program to another family
94% of children in our programs reported high educational expectations and aspiration for themselves.