DOCUMENT RESUME ED 419 852 UD 032 205 AUTHOR Syropoulos, Mike TITLE Evaluation of the 1996-97 Ninth Grade Restructuring Program. Area C. INSTITUTION Research and Evaluation Specialists, Inc. SPONS AGENCY Detroit Public Schools, MI. Office of Research, Evaluation, and Testing. PUB DATE 1997-10-00 NOTE 202p.; For Areas A and B of this evaluation, see ED 417 246-247. PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Academic Achievement; Attitude Change; *Dropout Prevention; *Grade 9; *High School Students; High Schools; Principals; Program Evaluation; *School Restructuring; Teacher Attitudes; *Teachers; Teaching Methods; *Urban Schools; Urban Youth IDENTIFIERS *Detroit Public Schools MI ABSTRACT This evaluation of the Detroit (Michigan) public schools was designed to restructure the ninth grade in ways that improve academic performance, develop positive attitudes toward learning, improve the school environment, reduce the dropout rate, and increase the graduation rate of students. Features of the program were instructional and direct noninstructional services, such as social work services =1---14r psychological services; tutoring by student assistants with teacher supervision; and parent participation in instructional and noninstructional activities. This report presents findings from the second year evaluation in Area C of the Detroit schools. One principal completed a survey and indicated the clear belief that the program boosted student achievement. Students who completed questionnaires (n=146) were highly satisfied with the program and thought it helped them academically and socially. Teachers (n =19 from 3 schools) generally thought (90 to 100%) that the program raised student achievement. Three ninth grade administrators who responded also generally thought that the program raised achievement. Teachers andadministrators identified areas that improvements could be improved and made recommendations for its continuation. These included the fostering of a school-within-a-school environment, continuing block scheduling, continuing to create clusters of students, and continuing to sensitize teachers to the special needs of ninth graders. One of the chief findings is that the rate at which students discontinued their educations declined in 1996-97 as it had in 1995-96. Twelve appendixes provide information about students affected by the program, including information on dropouts and transfers. (Contains 60 tables and 56 references.) (SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** N 00 EV UATION OF T 1996-97 GR E UCT ING PROGRAM _EA C Submitted to: The Office of Research, Evaluation andAssessment Detroit Public Schools U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Olt ceot Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (EPIC) This document nes been reproduced as 'received from the Person nr organization originating it 11 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction duality Points ot view or opinions stated on this doCu- merit do not recesaarilv represent Official OE RI position or policy Submitted by: Dr. Mike Syropoulos, ProjectEvaluator Research and Evaluation Specialists,Inc. October, 1997 Secretarial Services Were Provided by Deidra Thornton TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. PROGRAM FACTS i II. EVALUATION OF THE 1996-97 NINTH GRADE RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM, Executive Summary iv III. BACKGROUND INFORMATION/NINTH GRADE RESTRUCTURING 1 IV.LITERATURE REVIEW 6 V.PURPOSE OF EVALUATION 6 VI.METHODOLOGY 6 Process Evaluation 6 Product Evaluation 6 VII.PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PROCESS DATA 7 Principals' Perceptions of the Program 7 Teachers' Perceptions of the Program 10 Students' Perceptions of the Program 22 Ninth Grade Administrators' Perceptions of the Program 28 Academic and Support Programs 35 VIII.PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT DATA NINTH GRADE 41 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Grade Point Average/1994-95 41 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 2.0+ Grade Point Average/1994-95 42 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Grade Point Average/1995-96 43 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 2.0+ Grade Point Average/1995-96 44 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Grade Point Average/1996-97 45 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 2.0+ Grade Point Average/1996-97 46 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) Page VIM PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT DATA NINTH GRADE (Cont'd) Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with Student Daily Attendance/1994-95 47 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 92% + Student Daily Attendance/1994-95 48 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Student Daily Attendance/1995-96 49 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 92% + Student Daily Attendance/1995-96 50 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Student Daily Attendance/1996-97 51 Area C Schools Ninth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 92%+ Student Daily Attendance/1996-97 52 Area C Schools Credit Hours Attempted and Earned/ Ninth Grade/June, 1995 53 Area C Schools Credit Hours Attempted and Earned/ Ninth Grade/June, 1996 54 Area C Schools Credit Hours Attempted and Earned/ Ninth Grade/June, 1997 55 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Reading) April, 1995 56 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Mathematics) April, 1995 57 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Reading) March, 1996 58 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Mathematics) April, 1996 59 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Reading) April, 1997 60 Area C Schools/Ninth Grade/MAT (Mathematics) April, 1996-97 61 Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/June, 1995 62 Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/June, 1996 63 Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/June, 1997 64 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/District/June, 1995 65 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/District/June, 1996 66 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/District/June, 1996-97 67 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) Page VDT. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT DATA NINTH GRADE (Cont'd) Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/ Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1995 68 Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/ Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1996 69 Area C Schools with Incoming Ninth Grade Students/ Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1997 70 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1995 71 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1996 72 Area C Schools with Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1997 73 IX.PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT DATA TENTH GRADE... 74 Area C Schools Tenth Grade/Grade Point Average/1995-96 74 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 2.0+ Grade Point Average/1995-96 75 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Grade Point Average/1996-97 76 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 2.0+ Grade Point Average/1996-97 77 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with Student Daily Attendance/1995-96 78 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 92% + Student Daily Attendance/1995-96 79 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with Student Daily Attendance/1996-97 80 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Number and Percent of Students with 92% + Student Daily Attendance/1996-97 81 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Credit Hours Attempted and Earned/ June, 1996 82 Area C High Schools Tenth Grade/Credit Hours Attempted and Earned/ June, 1997 83 Area C High Schools/Tenth Grade/MAT (Reading) April, 1996 84 Area C High Schools/Tenth Grade/MAT (Mathematics) April, 1996 85 Area C High Schools/Tenth Grade/MAT (Reading) April, 1997 86 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) Page IX.PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT DATA TENTH GRADE (Cont'd) Area C High Schools/Tenth Grade/MAT (Mathematics) April, 1997 87 Area C Schools with Incoming Tenth Grade Students Leaving School/ District/June, 1996 88 Area C Schools with Incoming Tenth Grade Students Leaving School/ District/June, 1997 89 Area C Schools with Tenth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/District/June, 1996 90 Area C Schools with Tenth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/District/June, 1997 91 Area C Schools with Incoming Tenth Grade Students/ Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1996 92 Area C Schools with Incoming Tenth Grade Students/ Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1997 93 Area C Schools with Tenth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1996 94 Area C Schools with Tenth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Reasons for Leaving School/District/June, 1997 95 X.CONCLUSIONS 96 XI.RECOMMENDATIONS 107 XII.APPENDICES 111 A. High School Allocations 1996-97 by Area 112 B.Ninth Grade Incoming Students Leaving School/District for June, 1995 114 C.Ninth Grade Incoming Students Leaving School/District for June, 1996 118 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) Page D. Ninth Grade Incoming Students Leaving School/District for June, 1997 122 E.Ninth Grade Students (Repeating Courses) Leaving School/ District