Designed to deal with daily safety issues and crisis situations, this 2000 BEST Practice is a collaboration between the school district and numerous community partners including the mayor, sheriff, public safety director, fire department, county health department, local technical college and local school board members, school administrators, teachers, parents, community leaders and students. This 2000 Promising Practice is intended to increase student achievement by actively involving parents, guardians and caretakers in academic programming. Twelve Family Night events are designed to impact curricular areas that have been identified as weak by performance results on Ohio proficiency tests, observational surveys, reading benchmarks and classroom teacher assessments. Family Night activities arc designed and implemented as hands-on, interactive teaming experiences that can be, duplicated in the home. Take-home packets include developmentally appropriate learning activities, materials and concept extension ideas.
Qualitative data show a marked increase in family participation.
The program is housed in the Equestrian Center at Buckeye Ranch and serves up to 12 at-risk students at any one time. The sole Seeds of Change Practice honoree for 2000 serves students in grades 7-10. The program succeeds by focusing on the special needs of at-risk students through collaborative and coordinated efforts of several governmental, judicial, educational and community agencies. The school provides a constructive alternative to suspensions and expulsions, as well as effective intervention designed to prevent more serious problems. The program has attracted extensive interest from districts and agencies throughout Ohio.