Keeping Kids Safe and On Track –
2007-08 Annual Investment of $3.7 million in 31 programs

After-school and mentoring programs provide at-risk children with safe, constructive activities that promote academic achievement and provide positive and consistent adult and peer role models. These programs increase children’s engagement in school and reduce the number of youth victimized by crime.

Research shows that after-school programs and mentoring programs help children improve school attendance and academic performance as well as decrease problem behaviors such as drug and alcohol use.

Students in Portland Public Schools who attended programs funded by the Portland Children’s Levy showed improvements in academics, attendance and behavior.

AFTER-SCHOOL AND MENTORING OUTCOMES

On Track
Two-thirds of all students in Levy after-school and mentoring programs met or exceeded state benchmarks in reading and math.

On target
Nearly one half of Portland Public School students in Levy after-school and mentoring programs who were not meeting state benchmarks in reading last year moved to a higher performance category this year and more than half moved to a higher performance
category in math.

On Task
76 percent of PPS students in Levy after-school and mentoring programs attended school at least 90 percent of the time and more than half improved their attendance as compared with last year.

On Course
65 percent of PPS students in Levy programs who were suspended or expelled last year received fewer or no referrals resulting in suspension or expulsion this year.