Keeping Kids Safe and on Track:
Annual Investment of $3.8 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.

Our Progress: Students in Portland Public Schools who attended programs funded by the Children’s Investment Fund showed improvements in academics, attendance and behavior.

*Roughly two thirds of students attending a Fund after-school or mentoring program during the 2006-07 school year met or exceeded state benchmarks in reading and math. This includes students in Portland, Centennial, David Douglas and Reynolds school districts. 

*73 percent of PPS students in Fund programs attended school at least 90 percent of the time.

*68 percent of PPS students in Fund programs who were suspended or expelled the previous year received fewer or no referrals resulting in suspensions or expulsions during the previous school year.