In its second year, Critical Hours has focused on improving school performance. The seventh and eight grades are pivotal, transitional years. The highest dropout rate is found to be the first year of high school due to the academic and social difficulties students have in making this transition. It is a remarkable achievement that 14,000 youth attended an enriching after school program in its first year of implementation. More than 150 collaborative partners, working with the County and the Children's Initiative, provided programming at more than 50 sites as a testimony to true partnership.
Every provider can document and verify community participation in program design.
It is these partnerships, coupled with youth and community participation, that create interesting programs in which youth want to participate. Outcomes Matter Each of the Critical Hours contracts included five outcome measures tailored to needs of the communities served. Year-end reports indicate significant progress toward these outcomes. Beneficiaries Middle-school aged youth throughout San Diego County are the primary beneficiaries of Critical Hours. Youth, whether in urban, suburban and rural areas, and from an array of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, can access Critical Hours programs.