We successfully engage in many types of projects including everything from designing easy-to-use tools you can use yourselves, to customized, multi-phased evaluations, and half-day classes to intensive training and technical assistance. Here is a sampling of our work. The projects have been chosen to illustrate the breadth of our services and are listed in alphabetical order.
Carson J. Spencer Foundation, Fire Within Evaluation – This mixed-methods evaluation analyzed survey results, focus groups, and interview data to evaluate this innovative high school class curriculum combining business education and mental health awareness into a social entrepreneurship experience.
Colorado Graduates Initiative– NCSE worked collaboratively with Colorado Youth for a Change and the Colorado Children’s Campaign to study patterns of dropout in five Colorado Communities and build an intervention based on the results. The research lead to the development of the Johns Hopkins Early Warning System for Dropout Prevention.
GOAL Academy Technical Assistance and Evaluation – This combined technical assistance and evaluation project is helping Colorado’s largest on-line alternative school define school attendance and build school engagement in an online environment.
Jacksonville Full Service Schools Evaluation – This mixed methods evaluation included statistical analysis of three years of academic data on three groups of students using a quasi-experimental design, combined with focus group data from students, parents and community stakeholders. It was the first-ever evaluation is this $8 million dollar school-based mental health delivery program. Click here to view the final evaluation report for Jacksonville Full Service Schools.
Juniper County (pseudonym) Student Focus Groups – We conducted 18 focus groups in 9 schools representing three school districts in Juniper County to hear middle and high school students’ views on their schools and teachers. Read what they had to say in Teach from the Heart. If you’re from a school, there will be lessons there for you, too.
NCJFCJ Pathways to Juvenile Justice Site Facilitation – Jodi Heilbrunn served as a site facilitator for the nationwide effort sponsored by the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges to stem the flow of school referrals to juvenile justice.
NCSE AAA Policy and Practices Assessment – This is a tool to help school teams reexamine their policies and practices in light of best practices in school engagement. An individual school can use the assessment, or a district can involve a group of schools. The assessment includes a customized report and technical assistance to help teams decide on priority action steps.