Its more about the process

1
CHKS, Connectedness and the Achievement Gap

• Its more about the process
• (the setting, the interaction, the relationship)
• than the program

It aint what you do its the way that you do it
2
Intro to Connectedness and where you find your
scores
3
Connectedness Scales

• The RYDM chart is in every Technical Report
• External Assets
• School
• Community
• School Connectedness

4
Connectedness Scales
Concentrate on the High scores and compare to
previous reports and state averages
H 33 33 46 16 60 61 62 45 40
H 24 29 35 10 40 50 48 18 27
H 29 26 37 13 56 58 59 40 32
H 31 33 41 15 60 61 63 42 32
5
Connectedness Scales
External assets that foster connectedness
Health
Caring Relationships
Academics
Connectedness
High Expectations
ATOD
Meaningful Participation
Safety
6
Research Connectedness and School
Improvement Connectedness and Academics Safe
ty ATOD Use
7
Research Connectedness and School Improvement
The 3 Rs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Relevance Rigor Relationships
Meaningful Participation High Expectations Caring
Relationships
8
Research Connectedness and School Improvement
High Performing Learning Communities
Strong connections between students and staff. A
set of high expectations and a rigorous
curriculum Instructional strategies that engage
students A school culture that is
mission-driven and Focused on helping all
students learn.
Catherine Walcott, et alHigh School Reform
National State Trends, WestEd 2005
9
Research Connectedness and School Improvement
Consortium on Chicago School Research
Schools with high trust levels are 3x more likely
to report gains in reading math
scores. Schools in top quartile on standardized
tests had higher levels of trust.
Bryk, A. Schneider, B., Chicago Consortium, 2002
10
Research Benefits of Connectedness

• Academics
• Safety
• and ATOD Use

11
Connectedness AcademicsCaring Relationships
and Test Scores
Source California Healthy Kids Survey STAR
data files.
12
Connectedness AcademicsHigh Expectations and
Test Scores
Source California Healthy Kids Survey STAR
data files.
13
Connectedness AcademicsMeaningful
Participation and Test Scores
Source California Healthy Kids Survey STAR
data files.
14
Research Benefits of Connectedness

• Academics
• Safety
• and ATOD Use

15
Connectedness Safety
Weapons at school and Connectedness
Weapons Brought To School by School External
Assets At School
16
Research Benefits of Connectedness

• Academics
• Safety
• and ATOD Use

17
Connectedness ATOD Use
Binge Drinking and Connectedness
Binge Drinking (past 30 days) by School External
Assets At School
18
Academic Achievement
Sense of Belonging
Dropout
ATOD Use
Bullying
Wellbeing
Connectedness
Community
Empowerment
Resilience
Safety
Suicide
Mental Health
Health
19
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
...State and by Bay Area
20
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
California
2004-2006 weighted CHKS data 700,000 students
21
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
East Bay
2004-2006 weighted CHKS data
22
South Bay
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
2004-2006 weighted CHKS data
23
North Bay
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
2004-2006 weighted CHKS data
24
Peninsula
Ethnicity differences in Connectedness
2004-2006 weighted CHKS data
25
There is an Asset Gap in CA
26
A gap in Connection to school
27
www.wested.org/chks
California Healthy Kids Survey Center for
Resilience and Youth Development WestEd, Oakland
28
What connectedness looks like
High Expectations Demonstrates belief Challenge
support Firm guidance Structure
rituals Strengths-focused
Caring Relationships Available and
accessible Model caring Shows interest Compassion
Listening dialogue Patience Basic
trust Safety
Meaningful Participation Inclusion Responsibili
ty Voice choice Youth-driven Experiential
pedagogy Contribution Peer support Empowerment

29
What connectedness sounds like
High Expectations They say, I believe in
you its as simple as that. They say, You
can succeed in life. They brag about
you. Encouragement is key they say, You can do
better. They see you after class and say, See
you in the future.
Caring Relationships Be there. Get to know our
stories. They help me by listening and
encouraging me. They talk to me as a person and
friend, not just as a student. Ask, How was your
day? But also Listen and give eye contact. Take
time to say hello. Know our names.
Meaningful Participation Active learning, and
more discussions. Make it more visual. Show me
how to do it. Get the fun into class! Do group
projects. We can share ideas opens you up to
new ones. I want to help tutor little kids in
reading and math after school. Kids helping
kids School is a community its not a building
but about people.
30
Strategies to increase connectedness
Caring Relationships
31
Strategies to increase connectedness
High Expectations