The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of a tutoring intervention provided by community tutors to kindergarten students at risk for reading difficulties. The 73 students were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) tutoring 4 days a week, (b) tutoring 2 days a week, or (c) a control condition that provided…

A national study surveyed (1) extent to which state and local programs serve the most in need, (2) less expensive nontraditional approaches to instruction, and (3) state regulations that act as barriers. Found that most of the efforts are in nontraditional settings, correspondence courses are successful and less costly alternative, and most…

This paper presents a family of studies associated with a large-scale evaluation conducted to assess the impact of research-based models and promising strategies on non-cognitive and cognitive school indicators. In a partnership between community-based organizations and a large urban public school district, project SHIELD provided services to…

A survey of 21 principals and 7 assistant principals in a large Canadian city examined their perceptions of the effectiveness of programs for at-risk students. In general, these administrators endorsed the effectiveness of community approaches to assisting at-risk students, and they felt that the focus of interventions needs to be broadened. (SLD)

This paper describes and evaluates Grand Academy, an alternative junior high school set up in New York City by a local district and a nonprofit community-based organization to meet the needs of students who have twice failed to meet Board of Education promotioal standards in the seventh grade. The instructional program, provided by the school…

Describes a program to improve mathematical skills of off-track students through a partnership among a university, public school, local telephone company, and the community (including families and social agencies). Shows significant improvements in students' academic achievement, and notes that all of the teachers felt the social work aspect had a…

The state of Washington implemented the Readiness to Learn program as part of the state's Family Policy Initiative. The primary goal of the program is to serve as a formal link between education and human services by authorizing grants to local school-linked, community-based consortia to develop and implement strategies that ensure children arrive…

Describes the Charlottesville (Virginia) Volunteer Tutorial, a one-on-one tutorial program that promotes the literacy development of young children and involves a wide range of community volunteers. Suggests that the program offers one model of an affordable, alternative form of early intervention. (SR)

The effects of a community-based program designed to delay onset and reduce frequency of alcohol and drug use among high-risk youth are evaluated. Implemented in multiple church communities, program components include parent and youth training, early intervention services, and follow-up case management services. Implications for social work are…

This report presents the findings of a study to evaluate the appropriateness of 63 alternative educational and vocational programs for high-risk adolescents in New York City, specifically youthful offenders and persons in need of supervision in the facilities of the New York State Division for Youth (DFY). The programs were established to provide…

The state of Washington implemented the Readiness to Learn program as part of the state's Family Policy Initiative. The primary goal of the program is to serve as a formal link between education and human services by authorizing grants to local school-linked, community-based consortia to develop and implement strategies that ensure children arrive…

The Positive Impact Program (PIP) is a program that involves the community through role models as mentors in striving to meet the needs of at-risk students. The program is directed by 16 black men who work every week with school-age black males (N=18) who have been identified as being "at-risk" by their teachers. The teachers identified…

Evaluation after two years of Project RAISE, a multifaceted program with seven community sponsors in the large Baltimore (Maryland) school district, indicates the effectiveness of using community adults as advocates and mentors in improving student attendance and some report card grades, but not promotion rates or standardized test scores. (SLD)

The 1986-87 Attendance Improvement Dropout Prevention (AIDP) Part-Time Jobs Program was begun in spring 1987 to place at-risk New York City, New York, high school students in part-time, unsubsidized jobs that would motivate them to improve their school attendance and academic achievement. Twenty-one community-based organizations (CBOs) contracted…

This report presents graphic and textual information to describe the unemployment problem among New York City's youth at risk, and to explore what might be done to alleviate the problem. Youth at risk are identified as the group of young people (aged 14 to 19) who are functionally illiterate and lack skills for employment. These young people, who…