DOCUMENT RESUME ED 362 004 FL 021 375 TITLE Reinforcing E.S.L. with Los Cumbancheros Choral Performance Group (Los Cumbancheros). 1991-92 Final Evaluation Report. OREA Report. INSTITUTION New York City Board of Education, Brooklyn, NY. Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment. PUB DATE Jul 92 NOTE 26p.; Appendix D, a high school newspaper article, is partially illegible due to filled print. AVAILABLE FROMBilingual Multicultural, and Early Childhood Evaluation, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, New York City Public Schools, 110 Livingston Street, Room 732, Brooklyn, NY 11201. PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative/Feasibility (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Choral Music; *Cultural ACtivities; *Dance; Elementary School Students; *English (Second Language); Enrichment Activities; Intermediate Grades; Junior High Schools; Junior High School Students; Language Proficiency; Limited English Speaking; *Music Education; *Native Language Instruction; Parent Participation; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; Second Language Instruction; *Singing; Spanish Speaking; Staff Development ABSTRACT A program to reinforce English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learning through participation in a choral performancegroup (Los Cumbancheros) is described and evaluated. Theprogram served 218 sttidents in 5 intermediate and junior high schools and 2 elementary schools in the Bronx (New York). Most students were classified as limited English proficient; some English-proficient and special-education students were also served. Instruction was offered in Spanish native language arts (NLA), ESL, and music and music theory. Students participated in choral performances or in a percussion and dance group. Groups performed at a variety of multicultural activities throughout the school year. Strff development and parental involvement activities were also offered. Evaluation of the program found it met its objectives in NLA, ESL, music theory, English and Spanish oral lang.iage proficiency gains, and participation in cultural and educational events. It partially met objectives for staff development and parental involvement. Recommendations for program improvement include: exploration of ways to document student achievement more fully; holding the required number of training sessions for teachers; and increased effort to interest parents in attending workshops. Staff information, scheduling information, performance calendar, school newspaper article, and list of instructional materials and songs are appended. (MSE) A 9a ait k I I Reinforcing E.S.L. with Los Cumbanchems Choral Performance Group (Los Cumbancheros) 1991-92 FINAL EVALUATION REPORT DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Improvement Ofhce ot eduCaWnat Research and EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS CENTER (ERIC) BY MAT RIM_ HAS BEEN GRANTED irtrus document has been reproducedas fecerved from the personor organuabon orrgmatog made to WhOrOve oloér 0 Minor changes have been reprOduCtton push!), in this CIOCu Points of ...ew or opinions Statedrepresent official went do not neCesSardy OERI posttton or policy TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) BEST COPY AVA NEW YORK CITY BOARDOF EDUCATION H. Cari McCall President Irene H. Impellizzeri Vice President Carol A. Gresser Westin& L. Matthews Michael J. Petrides Luis 0. Reyes Ninfa Segara Members Keysha 1 McNeil Student Advisory Member Joseph A. Fernandez Chancellor DIVISION OF STRATEGICPLANNING/RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Robin Willner Executive Director lt is .pccyotsNsw yea Oty loud na el &books oat to deetiniona am the bon etno. coke. and. Millie.. alp& ass. lunaceppieg conities. mannsum neon ofiennien of sea is in Wooden! sonens. tad oolnsen seil to maintain as nrcieureen tin al mon presteme. Iranian nemens noopliasse '1as Use may In Oneonta Monsin A.Setwenak tintield. as nquand_g lao Egan Opposing. 110 Unman 3uon Pa Menem Oar el MIL beelthjs. Nem Yen 11231. Tenpin's(7111) OI$-31* 717A2 3 Reinforcing E.S.L. with Los Cumbancheros Choral Performance Group (Los Cumbancheros) 1991-92 SUMMARY This report documents the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment's (OREA's) evaluation of Reinforcing E.S.L. with Los Cumbancheros Choral Performance Group (Los Cumbancheros). The project was funded by New York State Bilingual Categorical Funds for the fourth year. Los Cumbancheros served 218 students from five intermediate and junior high schools and two elementary schools in four community school districts in the Bronx. Most of the students were classified as limited English proficient, although some English proficient students, as well as a few who were certified for special education, were also served. Spanish Naiive Ltnguage Arts (N.L.A.) and English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) instruction was offered in music and music theory. Students participated in choral performances or in a percussion or dance group. Performing groups participated at a variety of multicultural activities throughout the school year. Los Cumbancheros also provided staff development and parental involvement activities. The project was successful in meeting its objectives for E.S.L. and N.L.A. music theory, English and Spanish oral language proficiency, and cultural/educational events.It partially met its objectives for staff development and parental involvement. Based on the findings of this evaluation, OREA makes the following recommendations to the project: Explore ways to document student achievement more fully. Hold the required number of training sessions for teachers. Attempt to interest parents in attending workshops, possibly by selecting topics based on a needs assessment. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was prepared by the Bilingual,Multicultural, and Early Childhood Evaluation unit Qf the Office of Research, Evaluation, andAssessment. Additional copies of this report are available from: Dr. Tomi Deutsch Berney Bilingual, Multicultural, and Early Childhood Evaluation Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment New York City Public Schools 110 Livingston Street, Room 732 Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 935-3790 FAX (718) 935-5490 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 PAGE I. INT'RODUCTION 1 Participating Students 1 Staff Qualifications 1 Scope of This Report 2 IL IMPLEMENTATION 3 Eligibility 3 Programming 3 High School Component 5 Student Activities 5 Teaching Techniques 6 Staffing 7 Parent Characteristics and Involvement 7 HI. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY 9 Data Collection 9 W. OUTCOMES 10 E.S.L. Music Theory 10 N.L.A. Music Theory 10 English/Spanish Oral Language Proficiency 11 Staff Development 11 Parental Involvement 12 Cultural/Educational Activities 12 V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13 APPENDICES A: DEGREES AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCIES OF STAFF 14 B: DAILY CLASS SCHEDULE 15 C: CALENDAR OF PERFORMANCES 16 D: STUDENT'S ARTICLE 17 E: LIST OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SONGS 18 iii TABLES TABLE 1 Participating Sites and Students iv I. INTRODUCTION Reinforcing E.S.L. with Los CumbancherosChoral Performance Group (Los Cumbancherosy provided music instruction in Spanish and Englishto Latino elementary and intermediate school students in the Bronx. Los Cumbancheros aimedto teach music theory, improve participants' oral proficiency in both English and Spanish, provideregular staff development for bilingual and E.S.L. teachers, and involve parents while engagingstudents in an exciting program of public performances. Originally basedon a choral performance group, Los Cumbancheros added a percussion component and decorative arts (inone school) in order to provide activities for non-singers. The projectwas funded by New York State Bilingual Categorical funds for the fourth year. P.ARTICIPATIlicanIDEEM Two hundred eighteen students participated in the project. Staff completed data forms for 169 of them. Of these, one hundred forty-seven (87.0 percent)were Spanish- speaking students of limited English proficiency (LEP); 22 were English proficient (EP); and some were certified to receive special education services. Of the seven participating schools, five were intermediate schools and two were elementary schools. More than 94.4 percent of the participants were born outside the United States. Many were from low-income families. The pre-program academic performance of many students was well below grade level, and some were at risk of dropping out of school. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS The project staff were all bilingual. The project director, who also taught music, had a master's degree in education and extensive experience in both bilingual education and music instruction. Another music teacher,a pianist, had a master's degree in administration and supervision. Two of the three music consultants were percussionists, and the thirdwas the group's musii-arranger. One had a bachelor's degree in music, the otherwas a high school graduate who had attended music school, and the third consultant hada degree in applied science. The paraprofessional, a high school graduate, was a bassist.(See Appendix A for a complete list of project staff and their qualifications.) SCOPE OF THIS REPORT Part II of this report describes the activities which the project implemented for students, staff, and parents. Part III indicates how data were gathered for the evaluation. Part IV reports the outcomes to the objectives which the project proposed to meet. Part V reports conclusions and offers recommendations. 2 II. IMPLEMENTATION ELIGIBILITY Students were referred by parentsor teachers, or they could refer themselves. They were admitted to the project if they scored ator below the