FAST2 Year 2
Evaluation:
2015-2016
December 15, 2016
Shira Solomon, PhD
Table of Contents
©2016 SOLOMON EVALUATION LLC FAST2 YEAR 2 EVALUATION REPORT TO FCPS
Executive Summary................................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction
Student Population.......................................................................................................................................... 2
Activities & Resources .................................................................................................................................... 3
Program Logic Model ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Evaluation Design & Methods
Performance Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 7
Evaluation Questions ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Data Sources & Analyses .............................................................................................................................. 9
Outcomes & Findings
Student Impact
Academic Progress ......................................................................................................................... 11
Attendance ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Health Insurance .............................................................................................................................. 13
Participant Expectations & Experiences
Student Satisfaction ....................................................................................................................... 14
Family Satisfaction .......................................................................................................................... 17
Family Involvement ........................................................................................................................ 18
Family Outreach ............................................................................................................................... 20
Teacher Input .................................................................................................................................... 20
CBO Partner Perceptions .............................................................................................................. 22
Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................................23
Recommendations ................................................................................................................................25
©2016 SOLOMON EVALUATION LLC FAST2 YEAR 2 EVALUATION REPORT TO FCPS
Appendix
Population by Site & Setting .....................................................................................................................26
Student Survey ................................................................................................................................................27
Family Involvement Questionnaire ..........................................................................................................28
Family End-of-Program Survey .................................................................................................................29
Teacher Survey ................................................................................................................................................30
CBO Partner Survey .......................................................................................................................................31
Family Newsletter ...........................................................................................................................................32
This report was funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant (award #165613-01)
from the Maryland State Department of Education.
Questions about the report may be directed to the author: [email protected]
Nondiscrimination Statement:
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in
educational programs or activities receiving federal funds and requires equal opportunity in
admissions, athletics, counseling, access to courses, and employment policies regarding marital or
parental status of students and treatment of students. All students and employees are covered by
this law. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX should be directed to the FCPS
Legal Services Office.
Executive Summary
©2016 SOLOMON EVALUATION LLC FAST2 YEAR 2 EVALUATION REPORT TO FCPS
FAST in FCPS
In the 2015-2016 school year, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) provided extended
learning opportunities to 377 elementary, middle, and high school students through 21st
Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants from the Maryland State Department of
Education. FCPS operated eight 21st CCLCs across three Fun Academics in the Summer Time
(FAST) programs: FAST1, FAST2, and FAST+.
FAST2, Year 2
In its second of three program years, the FAST2 program served 116 students at Hillcrest,
Lincoln, and Waverley Elementary Schools (HES, LES, and WES, respectively). Participating
students were performing below grade level academically and belonged to low-income families.
Together, these conditions put struggling students at risk for falling increasingly behind their
peers academically and for disengaging from educational opportunities in their school and
community. The FAST2 program was designed to intercept this trajectory.
FAST2 offered students in Grades 3 through 5 a five-week, full-day summer experience that
blended small-group academic instruction, enrichment, and youth development activities. All
services were free, including bus transportation, breakfast and lunch, and supervised before- and
after-program care.
Program Performance
The evaluation found that virtually all FAST2 students avoided summer learning loss in
either reading or math, and two-thirds of them maintained or improved in both subjects.
Attendance surpassed 80 percent, and the program met its objectives for student satisfaction,
family satisfaction, and health insurance.
Participant Experience
Students perceived FAST2 as a safe and supportive environment and expressed great trust
in the teachers and staff members. The program appeared to stimulate students’ interest in
participating in the types of enrichment activities that were offered by community-based partner
organizations. Families applauded the program’s frequent communications. They were pleased
with the academic support their children received and felt that the program helped their
children to like school more.
Introduction
©2016 SOLOMON EVALUATION LLC FAST2 YEAR 2 EVALUATION REPORT TO FCPS
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) offers an array
of out-of-school-time programs for students and
families who need extra support. Since 2003, FCPS has
served low-achieving students in high-poverty schools
through a series of 21st Century Community Learning
Center (CCLC) grants funded by the Maryland State
Department of Education. In the 2015-2016 school
year, FCPS used three such grants to administer the
Fun Academics in the Summer Time (FAST) program.
Together, the FAST1, FAST2, and FAST+ programs
provided academic support, enrichment, and youth
development to eight schools clustered by feeder
pattern. All FAST programs ran for five weeks in the
summer of 2016.1 The summer of 2016 marked the
second of three program years for the FAST2 program,
which served rising third through fifth grade students.
Student selection was independent of students’
previous participation or eligibility.2
Student Population
The FAST2 population was similar to that of the three
participating schools. The program had a higher
percentage of low-income students (95 percent in
FAST2 compared to 86 percent at HES, LES, and WES
combined) and a higher percentage of Hispanic or
Latino students (61 percent compared to 55 percent). 3
1 FAST+ also included an afterschool component at its middle school.
2 In the 2015-2016 school year, FCPS began flagging FAST participants in its student information system.
However, flags do not indicate the years that students participated.
3 Data source: http://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Demographics
Almost all FAST2 students were
low income and nearly
