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The Students Plus Program
Administering Organization
International Rescue
Committee
Program Objectives and Unique
Needs Addressed
The Students Plus Program
provides academic support and cultural orientation to refugee teens
who are new to the U.S. Academic assistance focuses on English,
literacy, math and essential study skills. The program helps
students gain an understanding of American customs and practices,
while engaging them in making a positive difference in their new
community.
Program Description
Students Plus is an
after school program that takes place every school day of the
academic calendar. The program engages students from 3:00pm
(when they get out of school) until 5:30pm.
Students work together
with volunteer tutors to complete homework assignments, prepare for
High School Exit exams, and have general discussions about school,
family, and the stresses of being a teenager.
In addition to academic
assistance, Students Plus offers a College class once a week
according to student grade level; gender specific groups; access to
a computer lab with Internet; public speaking opportunities through
local universities; and a multi-media arts class.
Some student members
also participate in a Youth Management Team. This group meets once a
week to make major decisions on behalf of all the students. They
coordinate community service activities, end of the year parties,
and distribute general event information to the other student
members.
For newcomers to the
United States, Students Plus offers a tutorial, twice a week, with
monthly field trips to local tourist attractions as well as new
parts of town, hiking trails, the beach, and trips to the snow in
the winter.
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Resource Materials Used in
Program
Program resources are
minimal. Students Plus uses a girls’ group curriculum and a boys’
group curriculum each year. Students Plus staff developed the girls’
group curriculum in an effort to provide our girls a safe place to
address issues they may face as women in their community. The
curriculum includes career exploration, jealousy and positive
relationships, women’s health, women in the workplace, guest
speakers, games and quality time. The boys group is offered on
campus by another community program. Gear Up is a program on the
Crawford campus that prepares students for college. They work with
students individually based on their career and education goals.
Groups Served by Program
The Students Plus Program
serves high school students at one San Diego High School (Crawford
High) including East African, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Latino
students.
Program Funding
Currently, the 21st
Century Grant is our main source of funding with an additional grant
from the Parker Foundation. In the past we have been funded by the
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), by Wilson Fish alternative
project funds, and the Parker Foundation.
Program Staffing and Required
Staff Training
Students Plus consists of 3 staff members: a Program Specialist, an
Education Coordinator, and a Bilingual Teachers Aide, along with a
number of volunteers (between 15 and 28 per month).
We provide all new
volunteers with an orientation to the after school program, as well
as an orientation to the various cultural norms the volunteers might
experience working with our students. We introduce them to today’s
high school requirements, student pressures, family pressures, norms
of Muslim culture with regard to men and women (shaking hands,
gender specific grouping, etc.), the expectations we have for them
as volunteers in our program, and how they can provide the best
service to our students. We give them a volunteer manual prior to
the orientation as well as answer all questions in a group setting.
Defining Program Success
Students Plus defines
success by increasing voluntary participation by students. Students
Plus tracks the number of students attending every day after school.
We track yearly enrollment numbers to see how many students have
used program services during the academic year.
Regarding impact on the students, Students Plus looks at academic
outcome measures: improved student grades, High School Exit Exam
pass rates, and standardized test scores. The program also collects
qualitative data by surveying the teachers of Students Plus members
on the members' work habits and conduct in their classes.
Program Additional Comments
One of the program's great
successes—due in large part to the program participants—is the
overwhelming number of volunteers who continue to volunteer with our
program once their required number of hours through the university
is complete. The more time our volunteers spend with the teens, the
more they stay. The high school students take away so much more than
homework help; they are introduced to college life through the
volunteers and can ask the questions that they aren't comfortable
asking other adults.
Last year, the expansion of the Students Plus program to the entire
student body has provided more learning opportunities than any
number of textbooks. Students Plus served 206 students, 85% of whom
were refugees. We learned that while the community and the high
school would racially self-segregate, our program inspired students
to ask and learn more about one another.
Crawford High School hosts the Students Plus program. This school
was restructured into four distinct, thematic high schools aimed to
better serve the student population by making school a more personal
experience. Perhaps one of the most positive impacts Students Plus
has had on members is the knowledge they gain about scholarships,
clubs, teachers, school events, community events, sport events and
college deadlines. Students from all four schools are invited to
attend Students Plus, where they not only work on their schoolwork
but engage in conversations about their respective schools. Students
Plus operates as a hub for important information that not only
bridges ethnic and community divisions, but also bridges the four
schools encompassed at Crawford High.
Program Outcomes
The program's continued
expansion is one of the key indicators of its success. Last year,
Students Plus was able to open its doors to the entire student body,
increasing its members to 206 individuals. Our average daily
attendance is 35-40 students. The number of volunteers participating
with the Students Plus program has also grown to a total of 28 in
the last semester alone.
Other Key Elements
Our program could not operate without the consistent support of our
volunteer tutors. Volunteers typically join us from local
universities. The majority of these college student volunteers are
interested in Students Plus because they are pursuing degrees in
international relations, African studies, political science or
ethnic studies.
Program Contact
Christina Piranio,
christinap@theirc.org, 619-641-7510 x256
Program Dates
This
program began in September 1995 it is still operating.
The program
operates every school day of the academic calendar.
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