Educational Programs That Work - 1995

Score for College (SCORE)

Audience Underachieving youth, especially high-risk students from language minority and diverse ethnic backgrounds, grades 7-12.

Description SCORE provides a comprehensive, holistic approach, training schools to institute a program incorporating appropriate placement, study skills, academic support, multiple modality teaching techniques, counseling, and mentoring. SCORE trainers work with schools to design a customized program for accelerating the achievement of high-risk youth, train staff, and provide follow-through support with a set of materials, workbooks, videotapes, and consultation. Students are heterogeneously grouped in a college core curriculum leading to university eligibility upon graduation. The program has five major components: (1) Tutoring and Study Skills; (2) Guidance; (3) Parents; (4) Motivational Activities; and (5) Summer Acceleration. Local trainers can be developed to inservice new staff and serve as program consultants. SCORE addresses National Educational Goals 3 and 8.

Evidence of Effectiveness Five claims of effectiveness were evaluated using case studies, pre/post test gains, and reversal of downward trends in college eligibility and college attendance. Each program component was evaluated for both individual and combined effectiveness. Results showed that high-risk students who participate in SCORE are successfully enrolled into a common core college preparatory curriculum; SCORE high-risk students enroll in colleges and universities at higher rates than their peers; students involved in SCORE test out of LEP programs at rates higher than their peers; SCORE schools decrease remedial course offerings and increase college preparatory curriculum; and schools that implement an effective SCORE program increase graduation rates.

Requirements SCORE can operate within existing school facilities using current curriculum and equipment. A director, teacher, tutors, counselors, and parent workers are required for implementation.

Costs Start-up costs include completing the three-day Adoption Training, (including purchasing the SCORE Kit), the two-day Study Skills Training and the one-day workshop on Crisis, Grief, and Loss. Study Skills materials (English and Spanish versions) for student participants are approximately 20 per student. Supplementary teaching materials are may be recommended. Technical Assistance: SCORE recommends one half-day per site per quarter the first year, one day the second year, and participation in the trainer-of-trainers program once the program is operational. Adoption training materials include: Directors Guide, Staff Development Guide, and Resource Guide for the three day adoption training participants. Awareness videos on program overview and effective tutorials are available on a free loan basis. Supplemental curriculum materials for administrators, counselors, and teachers include research findings, teaching techniques/strategies, and teaching tools with a focus on language minority students and those at risk of failure. Reproduction masters are included for handouts and visual aids.

Services SCORE provides adopters with extensive staff development, staff and student materials necessary to run a quality program. Technical assistance, localized to site needs, is provided during implementation.

Contact

Sharon Marshall Lockett, Director
Educational Innovation/SCORE
PMB 379, 30100 Town Center Drive, Suite O
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Phone/Fax: 949-363-6764
E-Mail: sharon@score-ed.com
URL: http://www.score-ed.com