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| Focus Dissemination Project. A successful secondary program for training teachers to deal with disaffected youth, approved by JDRP for disaffected secondary students and all secondary educators, school board members, and community members who have an interest in developing local programs to meet the needs of the disaffected students in their settings. |
Description Focus provides an alternative education plan for students who have been identified as disaffected, showing a lack of motivation, lack of confidence, and low self-esteem. The program effects responsible institutional change and positive student attitude and performance by helping students learn responsibility to self, school, and society. Through a group counseling experience, the peer group is guided to deal with the problems causing disaffection. Focus is a "school within a school" for secondary students who are not achieving or functioning in a way beneficial to themselves and/or those around them. The Focus program seeks to reduce student disaffection with school and learning, to improve each student's ability to relate effectively with peers and adults, and to give each student a reason to be optimistic about the future. Focus is a highly structured program offering courses in English, social studies, and math. Instruction in Focus classes is based on ability and need. Focus students take such classes as science, physical education, health, and electives in the regular school program. All Focus students are involved in a group counseling experience called Family. Each Family consists of 8 to 10 students and one teacher who meet together one hour daily throughout the year. Family attempts to help the student develop feelings of caring, self-worth, and concern for others. It includes examination of one's own behavior in relation to the reactions of others within an atmosphere of positive support from the group. Program effectiveness is measured in grade equivalency gains on standard achievement tests, reductions in negative behaviors and improved attendance and grades.
Developmental Funding: HEW, Youth Development Act.
JDRP No. 74-74 (5/29/74)
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[Intercept, Project]