Innovative evaluation of a comprehensive school-based initiative reveals strong positive outcomes for students in a predominantly Latino school district

Data have consistently shown that Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) schools have some of the lowest API and third grade reading scores, and highest dropout rates in California. PVUSD provides K-12 education to over 19,000 students, the majority of whom are Latino (79%) and from very low-income families. PVUSD received the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) federal grant. ASR was hired as the local evaluator. One hallmark of the evaluation was the innovative analysis of state school-based survey data. ASR looked in-depth at at-risk behaviors and the protective factors that help youth avoid these behaviors. Cluster analyses showed that over the grant period student assets increased, meaning more students felt connected to adults, were involved in meaningful opportunities, and felt engaged/ empowered at school. Evaluation findings also showed that high school students reported less ATOD use and perceived that frequent ATOD use was more harmful than at the start of the project. Both students and parents perceived that schools were safer than before. A county-wide telephone survey of residents in the PVUSD area showed that respondents perceived PVUSD schools to be safer. In other words, the intervention appears to have impacted overall public perceptions of PVUSD. In summary, ASR aligned SS/HS performance outcomes with community outcomes and used innovative analyses of school-based survey data to see how students were doing on critical outcomes. Data were also used to drive, sustain and create new programs. Methodology approved by ASR's Internal Review Board.