| Parents and policymakers around the United States | | | | student performance using NYC Department of |
| are not happy with with public education. This is why | | | | Education assessment tools. |
| by the year 2005 there were approximately 3,400 | | | | The COC program is fast becoming a model that is |
| charter schools in the United States serving about | | | | being sought after by other agencies for their own |
| 800,000 students. Parents want choices. (Source: | | | | after school program sites. High priority is placed on |
| Educational Trends Shaping School Planning and | | | | each student's academic success with intense tutoring |
| Design 2007 by Kenneth R. Stevenson, Department of | | | | and daily help with homework. This opens the door to |
| Educational Leadership and Policies, College of | | | | advocacy within the social systems (school and court), |
| Education, University of South Carolina.) | | | | age-appropriate group and individual mentoring, family |
| It also appears as if classrooms may be getting | | | | mediation, performing arts, and sports and recreation. |
| smaller. Research indicates that over the next 25 | | | | The Create success program goals include: Closing |
| years we may see elementary schools housing an | | | | the academic skills gap; displacing the poverty |
| average of 200 students, middle schools with no more | | | | mentality; and providing the support and resources |
| than 400 to 500 students, and high schools with 500 to | | | | needed to help each child enter the workplace after |
| 750 students. Some supporters argue that small | | | | copleting their education. |
| schools are better at improving the academic | | | | Technology in education is another big trend. School |
| achievement for students.They believe small schools | | | | districts will need to develop effective methods to |
| have higher graduation rates and improved behavior | | | | control costs caused by more-numerous neighborhood |
| among students. | | | | schools, lower teacher-pupil ratios, higher energy costs, |
| There has been significant research indicating that | | | | and reduced tax revenues. One solution would be by |
| smaller classroom benefits include enhanced academic | | | | means of virtual education via closed circuit television |
| performance and also improved student behavior and | | | | or through Internet e-learning. |
| teacher morale. A few studies further suggest that | | | | In the future, in order to enhance scores on state or |
| such classes particularly benefit at risk students. | | | | national tests, students may be required to sign up for |
| One very successful program from Brooklyn, New | | | | a second course in math instead of taking electives |
| York is known as Create Success. The after school | | | | like art. Plus the students who are already doing well in |
| and summer programs from Children of the City | | | | math or science may be encouraged to take more of |
| (COC) have proven to enhance each student's | | | | the advanced math and science courses, all of which |
| academic success. 95 percent of the students tested | | | | raises the school's academic profile. |
| over the last three years improved in several DRA | | | | As schools increase the focus on traditional academic |
| levels; 20 percent increased by one grade level; and all | | | | subjects, demand for music, art, and vocational |
| of the participating students said they felt more | | | | courses may diminish. And one more reason why |
| comfortable reading, and more confident in their math | | | | programs like COC's programs enlist volunteers and |
| skills. All of the students had a positive outlook towards | | | | staff to reach the children at home, at school, on the |
| their success. This data was from evaluations of | | | | streets and playgrounds. |