NCJ Number
17384
Date Published
1972
Length
46 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF THIS PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PROGRAM FOR YOUTHS WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE INTO REGULAR SCHOOL CLASSES.
Abstract
EDUCATORS AND CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL HAVE LONG BEEN AWARE OF THE RE-ENTRY DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY YOUTH WHO RETURN TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THESE YOUTHS, FIVE LEARNING CENTERS WERE ESTABLISHED IN YAKIMA, SPOKANE, SEATTLE, TACOMA, AND EVERETT. ALL STUDENTS ENTER VOLUNTARILY, AND A LEARNING CONTRACT WITH CLEARLY STATED OBJECTIVES IS ESTABLISHED FOR EACH STUDENT. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WERE TO INCREASE INDIVIDUAL LEARNING LEVELS, TO INCREASE SOCIAL SKILLS, AND TO DECREASE THE FREQUENCY OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. DEMOGRAPHIC AND BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDENTS ARE INDICATED. PROGRAMS WERE ASSESSED BY MEANS OF PRE- AND POST-TEST COMPARISONS. MORE THAN 300 YOUTHS WERE SERVED BY THE FIVE LEARNING CENTERS. TWO-THIRDS OF THESE STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM OR WERE STILL ENROLLED AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IT WAS FOUND THAT DURING THE PERIOD OF ENROLLMENT, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATED. MINIMAL GAINS IN SOCIAL ABILITY WAS NOTED FOR MOST STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF RECIDIVISM OR REVOCATION AMONG THE STUDENTS UNDER PAROLE SUPERVISION WAS SMALL, WITH LESS THAN SIX PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS BECOMING INVOLVED IN DELINQUENT DETENTION OR REVOCATION. A SEPARATE SECTION PROVIDING DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM IS INCLUDED.