Applied Mixed-Methods Research to Enhance At-Risk Student Success Through a Multidimensional Intervention

• In Event: Students With Disabilities and At-Risk Youth

Abstract

This paper will highlight a collaborative three-part intervention to enhance the success of at-risk adolescent students. Utilizing state seed money, a middle school identified students for mentoring, career readiness, and academic support. Mentoring support comprised regularly scheduled, individualized attention to target students. Career readiness support included implementation of a computer-assisted program to promote soft skills, well-matched job site visits, and college visits. Academic support addressed the low reading performance of identified students through intensive strategies instruction within a tiered literacy support system. Participants will learn about outcomes, including student absenteeism, discipline referrals, state assessment passage rates, grade average, standardized reading performance, as well as understand critical collaborative, organizational, systemic, and teacher leadership factors that contributed to student success.

Authors

• Daniel J. Boudah, East Carolina University

• Shamona Fernanders, Cherokee County School District