The program was designed to address issues such as conduct problems, aggression, drug use, and school drop-out. Children are identified as high-risk in kindergarten and are randomly assigned to receive an intervention treatment. Intervention includes classroom curricula in emotional development, parent training, child social-cognitive skills training, reading tutoring, and teacher consultation. Interventions are planned to last from grade 1 to grade 12. Participating teachers and schools receive training and orientation each year.
Interventions occur weekly at home and at school.
During the 1995-96 school year, four schools received the classroom curricula. 120 children have been targeted since grade 1 and those children are enrolled in 35 schools. Children were randomly assigned to receive the Fast Track intervention or not. Assessments have been made annually through direct observation, child testing, teacher report, parent report, peer report, and review of school records. Evaluations indicate that intervention children, compared to control children, demonstrate higher academic performance, stronger social-cognitive skills, and fewer aggressive behavior problems.