Project SOAR
Project SOAR is a school-based educational program grounded in our philosophy that students who are engaged with peers from diverse backgrounds, in an active learning environment, will develop the skills they need to succeed in school, career, and life. Project SOAR is modeled after the FIVER Children's Foundation serving 500 children in NYC and boasting a 95% graduation rate. We believe that our Project SOAR initiative will experience similar results!
Cradle Beach is working in collaboration with "Closing the Gap", the United Way, EPIC, and School #43, serving 60 children (20 third graders, 20 fourth graders, and 20 fifth graders) and another additional 20 children annually as a new class of 3rd Graders is added every year.
Project SOAR Evidenced-Based Outcomes
Project SOAR has benefited from Cradle Beach's commitment to research and evaluation. Through the efforts of Cradle Beach staff and external evaluators, a clearer picture is painted on the positive impacts of Project SOAR on the ABC's: Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance.
Attendance
- The rate of absenteeism for Project SOAR participants is 15 percentage points lower than the district average over the past three academic years with almost 1/2 of the days missed compared to the average Buffalo Public Schools student. In other words, the participants in the Project SOAR program spent 10 more days or 2 weeks more in the classroom compared to the typical student in the Buffalo Public Schools.
behavior
-
Teachers of the program participants clearly articulated a positive impact on participating in class, behaving well in class, volunteering, coming to school motivated, and getting along well with others as well as improved academic achievement.
course Performance
- In comparison to the control group, Project SOAR participants had higher grades in each of the four quarters as well as higher grades in math, science, ELA, and social studies.
- In comparison to the control group, average scores were higher for Project SOAR students on both the Math and ELA NYSAA tests. Furthermore, a higher proportion of Project SOAR students scored at the proficient level (3 or 4) than did the control group in Math (29.7% vs. 27.7%) and ELA (59.5% vs. 41.8%). The higher averages on NYSAA tests are consistent with the grade data reported above.
As we continue to research the program and its various components, we will update this site with new research reports, white papers, and research articles. For more information, please contact Tim Boling, CEO, Cradle Beach.
Research Reports
Project SOAR Control Group Research Study, October 2011
Project SOAR Comparison Group Research Study, June 2011
Research Summary Reports
Project SOAR Executive Summary of Control Group Research Study
Project SOAR Research Summary, June 2011
