| Session Title: Methodology and Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation of Communities in Schools of Texas |
| Multipaper Session 342 to be held in Sebastian Section I2 on Thursday, Nov 12, 3:35 PM to 4:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Cluster, Multi-site and Multi-level Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Heather Clawson, ICF International, hclawson@icfi.com |
| Abstract: In this presentation, study authors present the methodology and results of a multi-level, multi-method evaluation of Communities In Schools of Texas. Communities In Schools of Texas is a dropout prevention program and is part of the nation's largest stay-in-school network. CIS of Texas, established in 1979, operates 27 local CIS programs and provides services in more than 600 schools. |
| Examining School-Based Intervention Programs in a Multilevel Context: Communities in Schools in Texas |
| Heather Clawson, ICF International, hclawson@icfi.com |
| Jing Sun, ICF International, jsun@icfi.com |
| Aikaterini Passa, ICF International, apassa@icfi.com |
| In this presentation, study authors provide an overview of student-level outcomes from the Communities In Schools (CIS) of Texas Evaluation, which was recently completed. This presentation will focus on results from hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) help evaluators overcome issues of dependence and allow evaluators to examine their subjects while controlling for group level membership (i.e., schools). Using the CIS of Texas evaluation, this presentation focuses on several HLM models, including matched (PSM) student comparisons and CIS only student models over time. Findings from this study suggested that while CIS students did not perform well on behavioral and academic outcomes compared to their non-CIS peers, there were several significant individual-level predictors of success among CIS students. Additionally, certain school-level and CIS affiliate-level characteristics were significantly associated with several positive student-level outcomes. |
| Communities in Schools of Texas: An Examination of the Effects of Service Dosage on Students Over Time |
| Jing Sun, ICF International, jsun@icfi.com |
| Yvette Lamb, ICF International, ylamb@icfi.com |
| For over thirty years, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Texas has worked to address the needs of students who are at risk for dropping out of school. During this presentation, which covers the results of the CIS Texas evaluation, the authors will cover interesting relationships that emerged between CIS dosage and student outcomes. Examining students who received CIS services in the 2005-06 school year, the authors present the results of descriptive analyses, trend plots, and hierarchical linear models. Findings suggest that the number of hours of CIS programming a student receives was significantly related to a number of academic and behavioral outcomes over time. Insights and implications from the Texas CIS evaluation are discussed and future directions for research will be examined. |