NCJ Number
37021
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 25-32
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
AFTER PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY AND THE HISTORY OF THE SUNNYVALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROJECT, THIS ARTICLE OUTLINES THE SUNNYVALE SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND THE RESULTS OF A PROGRAM EVALUATION.
Abstract
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL EXPERIMENT IN CALIFORNIA WAS LAUNCHED IN 1971 BY THE SUNNYVALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY INTO CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOLS THROUGH SUCH PROGRAMS AS ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, COMMUNITY RECREATION ACTIVITIES, TEEN DROP-IN CENTERS, AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROJECTS. FUNDING WAS SOUGHT FROM THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND WAS GRANTED FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD. IN NOVEMBER OF 1972 AN EXPANDED VERSION OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WAS INITIATED IN EIGHT SCHOOLS. THIS EXPANDED PROGRAM SOUGHT TO INVOLVE THE COMUNITY IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, TO REDUCE VANDALISM, TRUANCY, AND SUSPENSIONS, AND TO DIVERT PROBLEM YOUTHS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A LARGE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR BOTH YOUTHS AND ADULTS. THE PROJECT EVALUATION, CARRIED OUT BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, HAS INDICATED CONSIDERABLE PROJECT SUCCESS. DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD, SIGNIFICANT DECREASES WERE NOTED IN SUNNYVALE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOR THE FOLLOWING: VANDALISM, RECIDIVISM REFERRALS, REFERRALS TO JUVENILE PROBATION, TRUANCY, SUSPENSIONS, AND STUDENT VIOLENCE. THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE COST EFFECTIVE.