The Joseph Samuel Isicoff Program for Learning & Advancement
Summer 2011 Report
Summer 2011 was a very active period for JSIP. Summer is a huge opportunity to help the JSIP students get ahead, and the students and staff work very intensively in the summer to reach this objective. Over the summer, we provided services to 21 youth, who received over 500 hours of direct service. The outcomes have been excellent: 3 students recovered course credit through summer school or Florida Virtual School, 4 youth re-enrolled in regular school, 1 enrolled in a GED program, 2 found full-time employment, 1 student enrolled in community college, and 8 youth who received intensive remediation improved at least one grade level in reading and mathematics skills. Only two students who participated in the summer did not reach their goals, primarily because their participation was sporadic. The outcomes indicate the effectiveness of JSIP services including tutoring, remediation, educational advocacy, standardized test preparation, employment search and resume building activities, specialized workshops, and field trips works.
Some Success StoriesAlberto
When Alberto started working with the JSIP tutors he was 17 years old, in 9th grade, and attending an alternative school. Over the summer, with the support of the JSIP program, Alberto completed core courses both in his school placement and at Florida Virtual School. Thanks to advocacy from the MDFT therapist and JSIP tutors, Alberto returned to regular school in the Fall of 2011, and he is currently taking 12th grade classes.
Roger
Roger started working with JSIP this summer. When we first met Roger, he was a 17 year old 9th grader in an alternative school. He reported to JSIP tutors that because of his learning disability he believed he would never advance beyond the 9th grade. Needless to say, he was extremely discouraged. The JSIP staff refused to allow him to use this label as a crutch. We showed Roger support as he completed core courses over the summer at both his alternative school and on Florida Virtual School. JSIP tutors and Roger's therapist advocated with the school district to find a more appropriate school placement for the fall. Today Roger is back in regular school, enrolled in 11th grade, and has met GPA eligibility to be on the school football team.
Lester
Lester started working with JSIP during the last week of the 2010-2011 school year. At that time he was about to finish 8th grade, and was not going to be promoted to the 9th grade. Lester's therapist and the JSIP staff advocated for him with the school district, and although he could not be promoted to the 9th grade, we were able to get the school to allow Lester to take two high school level courses, Earth Space Science and Algebra 1, during the 2011-2012 school year. During the remainder of the summer, Lester and JSIP tutors worked to prepare him for the high school math and science courses, as well as for the 8th grade courses he failed during the previous school year. Lester is no longer discouraged about his future: He now reports that he has learned from his mistakes, feels ready to pass the 8th grade, and confident that next year he will be promoted to the 9th grade.
Marvin
Marvin enrolled at JSIP at the beginning of summer 2011. About a month before he started attending JSIP, Marvin was expelled from regular school and enrolled in night school. During his first week at JSIP, M was removed from night school because he had obtained too many (the number is 3) unexcused absences. Together with the therapist, the JSIP staff worked to help boost Marvin's motivation. After attending JSIP for three weeks, he was ready to give school another try. The JSIP staff helped him re-enroll in night school, and also enrolled him in a Language Arts course at Florida Virtual School. By the end of the summer vacation, Marvin had completed half of the first semester of the Language Arts course, with a current grade of 92%, and there has been a dramatic improvement in his attitude towards school. Marvin will continue to work with JSIP staff to help him succeed in nigh school and FVS.
Paul
When Paul started to attend JSIP, he wanted to prepare for the GED test because he was 17 years old and still in the ninth grade, and felt it would be impossible to go back to high school. When we assessed Paul on the BRIGANCE test, it revealed that he was performing at a third grade level in math. Over the duration of the summer, Paul learned all the skills he needed to perform well on the TABE exam (Students are required to pass this test in order to be eligible for the GED). By the end of the summer, he was more confident in his abilities as a student, and together with his mother, he decided to return to regular school. We will continue to work with him whether he is in high school or preparing for the GED.
2011 - 2012 Academic Year
We are now at the start of the new academic year. Most of the summer students will continue to received services at the JSIP, and new students enroll monthly. Although we continue to serve all former and current youth involved in the MDFT program, this academic year we will have a special focus on youth enrolled in one of the three juvenile justice day treatment programs in Miami Dade County. These programs are for youth either returning from a long-term Department of Juvenile Justice commitment facility or youth who are one-step from going to such a facility. Thus, they are very "deep-end youth," with long arrest records and, of course, 2-3 years behind in school grade level. They are a group in tremendous need, often forgotten by the system. We will spend a substantial amount of our energies, therapeutic and educational, in 2011-2012 on this group. Students will be served both at the JSIP and at their schools: JSIP tutors are working several hours per week at the school making it easier for youth to avail our services and also enhancing the collaboration between JSIP and the school. In many cases, the students' teachers are providing lesson plans and educational goals to the JSIP tutor.
All names have been changed from those of the students at JSIPSee the 2010 - 2011 Update.