The impact of an educational initiative for at-risk urban African American males: An evaluation of a boarding school program.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an educational program, "Save the Males," that was designed for at-risk largely urban African American males attending a predominantly Black boarding school---the Piney Woods School---in Piney Woods, Mississippi. The goal of the program is to utilize mentoring, cultural, academic, and leadership activities to improve the behavioral and academic outcomes of African American males enrolled at the school. The period of evaluation was 1996--1999, and data for earlier years were analyzed when available.;Data for this study were obtained from the following sources: (1) school records of suspensions and expulsions; (2) quarterly grade reports; (3) standardized tests scores; (4) career and business plans on file; and (5) communication skills grades. Additionally, interviews were conducted with staff and students to obtain qualitative data to complement the descriptive data (Trochim, 2000; Charles, 1988). Variables examined centered around the following objectives: reducing the number of disciplinary referrals and suspension and expulsion rates; increasing the overall grade point average (GPA); increasing basic skills and becoming proficient in communication skills; and developing career and business plans.;Findings indicate that there was a decrease in disciplinary referrals for the entire Black male population, including participants in the athletic program. This is different than the pattern of disciplinary referrals of Black males in public school systems. There was no change in the suspension and expulsion rates during the three-year study period versus the previous three baseline years (1993--94, 1994--95, and 1995--96). The rates, however, account for a smaller percentage (ranging from 12% to 33% at the highest for suspensions, and 0% to 5% for expulsions) of the total population than what researchers have found in public schools.;The overall average GPA of Black males at Piney Woods during the three years of the study did not increase. The GPA was 2.16 versus a 2.35 average for the three years (1993--94, 1994--95, and 1995--96) previous to the study period (1996--97, 1997--98, and 1998--99). Although this represents an 8% decrease, it is interesting to note that the GPA for African American males in the Athletic Program increased 7% during the three-year study period as compared to the overall group. One hundred percent of African American males enrolled in the JROTC program earned a "C" grade or above on the communication skills assessment.;Formal career goal plans were written by 97% of Black male students during the second year of the study, and 59% were written during the third year. Information was not available for the first year of the study. One hundred percent of the participants in the "Save the Males" program completed a business plan for the first two years of the study, and 97% completed business plans for the final year. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)