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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 361 555 CE 064 544 AUTHOR Steinmiller, Georgine; Duncan, Lisa Bergeron TITLE Arkansas Youth Opportunities Unlimited Follow-up. Final INSTITUTION Henderson State Univ., Ark?delphia, AR. SPONS AGENCY Arkansas State Dept. of Education, Little Rock. Div. of Vocational and Technical Education. PUB DATE [91] NOTE 121p.; For a related report, see CE 064 543. Junior-Senior High School Personality Questionnaire results in Appendix C may not copy well due to broken print. PUB TYPE Reports Research/Technical (143) Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Academic Persistence; Ancillary School Services; *College School Cooperation; *Dropout Prevention; Economically Disadvantaged; Educational Attainment; Federal Aid; Followup Studies; Graduation; *High Risk Students; Outcomes of Education; Potential Dropouts; Residential Programs; Secondary Education; Secondary Schonl Students; Self Esteem; State Programs; Statewide Planning; Student Attitudes; Student Attrition; *Summer Programs; *Work Study Programs IDENTIFIERS Arkansas; Job Training Partnership Act 1982; *Youth Opportunities Unlimited AR ABSTRACT The follow-up component of the Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) program tracked students who graduated from YOU programs. Each participating university--Arkansas State, Henderson State, Southern Arkansas, University of Arkansas-Monticello, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and University of the Ozarks--maintained contact with its own graduates. Henderson coordinated efforts and collected and reported data. Monthly contact was through newsletters, birthday cards, holiday cards, phone calls, visits, and interviews. Contact was lost with 10 of 518 students. The junior-Senior High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ) was used to determine self-esteem attitude changes. On pretests, students tested in the extreme ranges; posttest results demonstrated scores in the normal range. During the retreat in 1989 and 1990, students tested again in the normal range. Responses to exit interviews were generally very positive and favorable. Spring interviews showed students maintained a very positive attitude about the program and expressed their intention to complete high school. Grades and school attendance remained stable. Of the 517 students, 19 graduated, 5 received General Educational Development certificates, and 458 were still in school. (Appendixes following the 23-page report include letters, monthly contact schedule and materials, HSQP test profiles, exist and spring interviews, grade and attendance follow-up forms, retreat materials, and stay-in school statistics.) (YLB) :IcInci Final Report Arkansas Youth Opportunities Unlimited Follow-up 1 Follow-up U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Once 01 EOuCanonal Research ancl Improvement MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY EDU6AT(ONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 5/ This document has peen reprOduced as Georgine Steinmiller Wowed Irom the person Or organization originating it Lisa Bergeron Duncan 0 Mrnor changes have been macle to improve rPrOductiOn push ly ( Points &view or Opinions Stateo in this dOCv. TO +1-1-E EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES mem 60 not necessarily represent ottal INFORMATION CENTER OERI position or policy (ERIC) 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE THIS REPORT IS DEDICATED TO THE NEWRY OF SUSAN HOLOPOFF TAYLOR 3 and they have of these young people III have heard from many experience the most rewarding told me that Y.O.U. has been of their lives. Governor Bill Clinton Governor of Arkansas keeps them received by the at-risk youth The reinforcement motivated to succeed.0 Dr. Charles Dunn, President Henderson State University newsletters letters, postcards, and u The Follow-up calls, Arkansas that someone does care show the Y.O.U. students of about them.0 Hillary Clinton First Lady of Arkansas the missing piece...the link between ',The report is the into his/her the graduates' jump back summer immersion and real life. Nancy Wood,'Chair State Board of Education continued in the program so much that I In fact, I believe job in it since I have taken my new to work with it and for the Governor's office.fl Deborah Walls Special Assistant Education measuring only mechanism we have for "The Follow-up is...the of program...the only way we have the effectiveness of the youth...vital to the continued continuing contact with the support needed by these youngsters. Wyonne Swafford, Coordinator Exemplary Programs Y.O.U. holistic approach of the program, In addition to the contact initiated by is unique because of the monthly Y.O.U. an extension of the caring, friendly people who make students' families.fl Lori Rarimi, Supervisor Youth Opportunities Unlimited Appendix A) (letters art included in III 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following for all their help with the Youth Opportunities Unlimited Follow-up (alphabetised): Delores Burkett King Sueha Filat-Alami Ken Lager Sandra Ankton Kathleen Mallory Randy Bass Georgeanne Billings Lonnie licNatt Sabrina Mecum Leanne Bird Marsha Miller Ana Caldwell Phillip Posey Christy Clark Judy Rogers Bill Clinton Hazel Sanders Hillary Rodham Clinton Robert,Stoinailler Lisa Bergeron Duncan Rick Stripling Charles D. Dunn Mary Beth Sudduth Bruce Elmore Wyonne Swafford 0. J. Freeman Rick Thompson Patricia Gilbert Deborah Wals Barbara Graves Jewell Whatley Charles Green *Nancy Wood Don Hatfield Roy Wood Marshal Johnson Sally Wood Doris Jordan Doris Wright Lori Karimi We would especially like to thank: Arkansas Department of General Education Arkansas Department of Higher Education Arkansas' Job Training Partnership Act Agencies Arkansas State University Arkansas Vocational and Technical Education Division Chapter II Advisory Board Cornerstone Project Retreat Staff Henderson State University :Junior High and High School Counselors of Arkansas and other states Media Implementation Cantor New Futures Office of the Governor Parents of Youth Opportunities Unlimited Students Southern Arkansas University University of the Osarks University of Arkansas at Monticello University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Youth Opportunities Unlimited Advisory Board Youth Opportunities Unlimited Students TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction I. Drop out Prevention Need: 1 Overview of Youth Opportunities Program: 2 Unlimited Overview of Youth Opportunities Study: 3 Unlimited Follow-up Commentary From Each Program 8 Arkansas State University 8 Henderson State University 9 Southern Arkansas University 10 University of Arkansas Monticello 11 University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 11 University of the Ozarks 12 Monthly Contact 13 III. Self-Esteem HSPQ Results: 14 IV. Exit Interviews 15 V. Counselor, Parent, Student Spring Interviews 16 VI. Grades and Attendance VII. 17 Retreat VIII. 19 Stay-in Statistics 20 IX. Projects 21 X. Conclusion 22 XI. Appendix XII. 23 Bibliography XIII. 96 1 V 6 Introduction I. Nesd: Drop-out Pm/ovation to depend To insure the future of the world, we will need The need for a youth. on the education and training of our Because well educated population can not be underestimated. complicated society, we need we are such a technological and Keeping our children the very best educated youth possible. that in school to obtain this education is vital. Programs a high should have. encourage students to stay in school , priority endorsement nationally. of human potential and loss Drop-outs represent a productivity which translates into a very high income cost to Current statistics show that our society 1989). (Hamby, approximately one in four students drop out of school without Today's society puts limits on graduating (Kunisawu, 1988). Historically those individuals who lack a formal education. the minimum of a high school diploma was not required for good High school dropouts today employment, but it is today. suffer more difficulty than ever before in obtaining good vocational opportunities (Brief Guidelines on Information and Strategy for Dropout Prevention in West Virginia, 1984). Dropout prevention is a good investment, especially Many dropouts do not when considering the alternative. participate productively in the work force and are often considered a burden on society (Gabriel and Anderson, 1987). High dropout rates cost society in such forms as increased crime rates, higher prison cost, an overworked welfare system, and greater economic loss to the nation. Experts maintain the importance of education to help a person become a productive citizen. We must view the problem of prevention. terms in Potential dropouts have not yet dropped out of school, so the problem may be addressed for some persons by intervention The use of positive intervention strategies strategies. This report shares should reduce the high dropout rate. information about a research study relating to one such intervention approach. Overview of Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program: Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) started in Texas In 1988, with a successful migrant worker education program. Arkansas decided to pursue the Y.O.U. program to help reduce 1988, Arkansas On June 15, its high school dropout rate. implemented its first summer residential Y.O.U. program for high school students who have been designated as at-risk of dropping out of school. These first efforts of Henderson State University and the Arkansas Department of Education marked the beginning of the In 1989, Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program in Arkansas. 2 with the addition of three Henderson hosted a second program, Arkansas Arkansas universities: more programs at three other University in Magnolia, State University, Southern Arkansas In 1990, a program Bluff. and University of Arkansas at Pine In 1991, The added. at the University of the Ozarks was participate in the Y.O.U. University of the Ozarks could not sufficient summer jobs on the campus; program due to a lack of Monticello was added to however, the University of Arkansas at the group. by their school The Y.O.U. participants were identified using factors such counselors as "at risk" for dropping out, families who have not completed high as low family income, substantial value on school, families who have not placed a increased mobility, education, a lack of interest in school, Steinmiller, (Gabriel & Anderson, 1987; Steinmiller & etc, selected to These students were further screened and 1990). from the participate in Y.O.U. program by representatives The SDA's are responsible for Service Delivery Areas (SDA). Jobs Training the allocation of funds from the Federal Primary funding for Y.O.U. comes from Partnership Act (JTPA). Division of the the Vocational and Technical Educational In 1988 the cost for each Arkansas Department of Education. In 1989, student was $3,150 (Y.O.U. fact sheet, June 1988). this rate was increased to $3,250 per student. Each Arkansas Y.O.U. program gives 14 and 15 year - to master basic old students across the state the opportunity 3 9 also They mathematics. and arts language in skills their during experience work quality in participate the various "intensive" sixty-day residential program on State University Press (Henderson campuses universities' Release June 14, 1988). consists of The academic component of the Y.O.U. program The academic skills class. two academic classes and a job forty-five minutes and classes are approximately one hour and and afternoon; the job skills class are taught in the =min:* Arkansas The academic classes are taught by is one hour. The students are divided certified public school teachers. they can attend into morning and afternoon groups, so that the remaining half. classes for one half of the day and work 1/2 credit of This program also enables the students to earn reading which can be elective course work in English, math, or graduation toward transcripts school their on counted requirements. specific job sites The students are paid for working at Most students are able to take home on the university campus. This amount varies between $600-$700.00 for their endeavors. allowance depending on how much they spend of their weekly The students learn budgeting skills in during the program. the job skills class. Besides the education and work training aspects of Y.O.U. services are available to the program, a wide range of support component These services include a health care students. 4