FDDOC Winners’ Circle after-school programs are evaluated by an independent evaluator annually to determine the effects on student achievement, attendance, report card grades, attitudes and overall program quality. Each objective is measured to determine if goals are met, as well as how to build and improve the programs. The students, parents, staff and school administrators are involved in the evaluation to determine how satisfied they are with the services.

The evaluations are prepared according the group of schools that were included in each 21 st Century Community Learning Center Grant. These groups include: Midway and Oak Park Elementary and Bethune Middle School; Creswell, EBW Stoner Hill and Southern Hills Elementary Schools and Booker T. Washington High School; and Mooretown and Sunset Acres Elementary Schools and M. J. Moore and Youree Drive Middle Schools. Complete evaluations for these schools can be reviewed at ___________.

During the 2009-2010 school year, over 1500 students participated in an after-school program from September through May. The evaluations concluded that there were many positive associations between FDDOC Winners’ Circle and Caddo Public School students who attended an after-school program 30 or more days.

Positive Association with Report Card Grades:

• 44% of the students from Midway, Oak Park and Bethune who attended the program for 30 days or more increased their reading report card grade 5 or more points from the first nine weeks to the fourth nine weeks; and 29% increased their math report card grade 5 or more points.
• 40.75% of the students from Creswell, EBW Stoner Hill, Southern Hills and Booker T. Washington who attended the program for 30 days or more increased their reading report card grade 5 or more points from the first nine weeks to the fourth nine weeks; and 36.75% increased their math report card grade 5 or more points.
• 30% of the students from Mooretown, Sunset Acres, M. J. Moore and Youree Drive who attended the program for 30 days or more increased their reading report card grade 5 or more points from the first nine weeks to the fourth nine weeks; and 32% increased their math report card grade 5 or more points.

Positive Association with LEAP Scores:

• A comparison of LEAP results of students at Oak Park and Bethune who attended the program 30 days or more indicated improvement. There were no Oak Park students scoring Unsatisfactory in ELA or Math for 2010. This same group of students also showed a 4% increase in those scoring Advanced and 44% increase in those scoring Mastery in ELA; and 18% increase in Advanced and 36% increase in Mastery in Math. Bethune students who participated in the program also showed improvement in ELA and Math for 2010, with an increase of 12% Advanced and 28% Mastery in ELA; and 3% Advanced, 8% Mastery, and 13% Basic in Math. Additionally, Unsatisfactory scores for Bethune students decreased by 3% in ELA and 17% in Math. Midway students who participated in the program showed an increase of 2% in those scoring Mastery in Math; however, there were increases in those scoring Unsatisfactory in both ELA and Math.
• LEAP data for Creswell indicated that 70% of the 30-day or more attendees scored Basic and above in ELA, while 59% scored Basic and above in Math. 53% of the EBW Stoner Hill’s 30-day or more attendees scored Basic and above in ELA, while 56% scored Basic and above in Math. 60% of Southern Hills’ 30-day or more attendees scored Basic and above in ELA, while 50% scored Basic and above in Math. 40% of Booker T. Washington students scored Basic and above on both ELA and Math on the GEE.
• A comparison of LEAP results indicate marked improvement at Mooretown, with no students attending 30 days or more scoring Unsatisfactory, and gains of 5% in ELA and 12% in Math in Basic and above. Sunset Acres students scored a decrease of 4% in Basic or above in ELA, while increased 3% in Math. Youree Drive students also showed great gains in both areas with gains of 7% in ELA and 17% in Math in Basic and above scores. M. J. Moore students scoring Basic and above decreased in ELA by 16% and by 11% in Math; however, there was an 8% gain in students scoring Unsatisfactory in Math.

Positive Association with Attendance and Behavior:

• 60% of the 30-day or more attendees from Midway, Oak Park, and Bethune had 5 or less absences from school for the 2009-2010 school year. Survey results indicated that students had positive attitudes toward school, thus leading to a desire to exhibit positive behavior.
• 59.5% of the 30-day or more attendees from Creswell, EBW Stoner Hill, Southern Hills and Booker T. Washington had 5 or less absences from school for the 2009-2010 school year. 100% of Booker T. Washington’s 30-day or more attendees graduated from high school. Survey results indicated that students had positive attitudes toward school, thus leading to a desire to exhibit positive behavior.
• 74% of the 30-day or more attendees from Mooretown, M. J. Moore and Youree Drive had 5 or less absences from school for the 2009-2010 school year. Survey results from these schools and Sunset Acres indicated that students had positive attitudes toward school, thus leading to a desire to exhibit positive behavior.

Positive Association with Improved Attitudes toward School and the Program:

• 94% of the parents surveyed from Midway, Oak Park, and Bethune believed that the program improved their child’s behavior, while more than 92% indicated that the program led to improvement in their child’s grades. Additionally, more than 93% reported that the program supported them with after-school supervision of their children.
• Nearly 90% of the parents surveyed from Creswell, EBW Stoner Hill, Southern Hills and Booker T. Washington believed that the program improved their child’s behavior, while more than 92% indicated that the program led to improvement in their child’s grades. Additionally, more than 97% reported that the program supported them with after-school supervision of their children.
• 95% of the parents surveyed from Mooretown, Sunset Acres, M. J. Moore and Youree Drive believed that the program improved their child’s behavior, while more than 93% indicated that the program led to improvement in their child’s grades. Additionally, 92% reported that the program supported them with after-school supervision of their children.

Positive Association with other Federal and State Funding Sources, Agencies and Community Projects:

• More than 50 letters were sent to foundations inquiring about their grant funding opportunities. Donations were received from several community partners and individual donors. FDDOC Winners’ Circle partnered with the Caddo Public School District for LEAP Summer Remediation, providing teachers at summer remediation sites for four weeks. FDDOC Winners’ Circle staff members regularly collaborate with other 21 st Century Community Learning Center partners around the state. It regularly receives publicity in local and state media for its efforts in improving student achievement and the community. Sal Miletello, founder of FDDOC Winners’ Circle, has been named a recipient of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Angel Award for which he received $20,000. Mr. Miletello donated this entire amount to the community by providing school uniforms for students at all of the after-school program sites.

Overall evaluation findings show that the after-school programs are benefitting the students, schools, families and community in Shreveport, Louisiana. Grades, state assessment scores and attendance have increased and negative behaviors have decreased because of positive, caring and supportive after-school programs in Caddo School District. Our goal is to continue supporting our schools, district and community by offering high-quality after school opportunities for deserving Caddo students!