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| Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, The. A cross-age tutoring program designed to reduce dropout rates among middle school children who are limited-English-proficient and at risk of leaving school, for grades 7-8. |
Audience Approved by PEP for students in grades 7-8.
Description The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is unique in that tutors are limited-English-proficient students at risk of dropping out of school. When placed in a responsible tutoring role and supported in their efforts, tutors gain significant social and economic benefits. The program has three levels that incorporate all the major features of the model--philosophy, instruction, and support. The philosophical base consists of tenets such as all students can learn; all students, parents and teachers have a right to participate fully in creating and maintaining excellent schools; excellence in schools contributes to individual and collective economic growth, stability and advancement; and commitment to educational excellence is created by including students, parents and teachers in setting goals, making decisions, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes. The instructional strategy incorporates five major components including classes for tutors; tutoring sessions; field trips; role-modeling; and student recognition. The support strategy involves curriculum, coordination, staff enrichment, family involvement, and evaluation activities.
In 1992, the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program was recognized by the Secretary of Education as a model dropout prevention program, meeting the National Goal for Education 2 of increasing the high school graduation rate to at least 90%.
Evidence of Effectiveness Student tutors participating in the program demonstrate a significantly lower school dropout rate than the comparison group and national rates; achieve significantly higher reading grades than the comparison group; show significantly greater gains on the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale than comparison students; and make significantly greater gains on the Quality of School Life Scale than the comparison group.
Requirements The model can be implemented by existing school staff. Six implementation guides (for the program administrator, the secondary principal, the elementary principal, the teacher/coordinator, the evaluation liaison, and the elementary receiving teachers) are available. Materials also include a family liaison guide and workbooks for each tutor in the program. While the materials provide the basics for adopting the program, schools are encouraged to plan adjustments in implementation. Elements critical to the success of the program include weekly classes for tutors with a minimum of 30 sessions per school year, a minimum age and grade difference of four years between the tutor and tutee, provision of a stipend, a flexible curriculum based on students' tutoring and academic needs, and a program staff dedicated and committed to the program's success. A minimum of ten training and technical assistance days are required.
Costs Cost per student/user (based on 25 tutors and 75 tutees) ranges from $150-$250, including tutor stipends, recognition awards, staff training, technical assistance, and evaluation.
Services In addition to training, technical assistance, materials, and evaluation, follow-up consultation is available.
Developmental Funding: Coca-Cola and USDE Office of Bilingual and Minority Languages Affairs.
PEP No. 91-23 (4/8/91)
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