Academic Impact

Most interventions do not product statistical evidence of change until years 3 and 4. As research documents explain, changing the climate and processes of a school often takes time. External evaluation MDEd Inc. discovered that schools in the Buffalo Public School District participating in the CITRS/CC! Initiative, compared to non-participating schools, in the first two years of the initiative

EXPERIENCED STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN

READING PROFICIENCY (ELA)

"Improved ELA Proficiency is a major predictor of other academic outcomes. As a result, finding interventions which can complement curriculum efforts is something that many schools are actively pursuing. finding initiatives which can improve student's character, motivation to learn and learning climates is essential to maximizing the limited minutes of instruction which exist during the day."

" STUDENTS ARE HAPPIER TO BE IN SCHOOL. "

Jeff Banks - Principal, Buffalo Public School #72

IDENTIFIED IMPACTS

After 2 years of implementation, external evaluator, CCNY, surveyed and reported:

97% STAFF SUPPORTED THE INITIATIVE

85% PARENTS SUPPORTED THE INIATIVE

81% STAFF FEEL THE INITIATIVE WAS EFFECTIVE

78% HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FEEL THE INITIATIVE WAS EFFECTIVE

" (THIS) PROGRAM HAS TURNED OUR SCHOOL FROM A DEGRADING, FEARED ENVIRONMENT TO A PLACE FULL OF POSITIVITY, COMPASSION, AND KINDESS. KIDS USE WORDS OF KINDNESS WHEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER, SOLVE DIFFERENCES USING PILLAR POWER TERMS, AND OVERALL ARE BECOMING KIDS OF CHARACTER. "

Lauren Golpl - Teacher, Buffalo Public School #74

78% PARENTS FEEL THE INITIATIVE WAS EFFECTIVE

78% HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FEEL THE INITIATIVE WAS EFFECTIVE

78% ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FEEL THEY ARE A BETTER PERSON

76% HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FEEL THEY ARE A BETTER PERSON

" THE INITIATIVE HAS CREATED A VERY POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT... OUR DICIPLINARY REFERRALS HAVE DECREASED. OUR STUDENTS ARE HAPPY. WE HAVE A COMMON VOCABULARY THAT ALLOWS US, THE STAFF, TO HAVE MORE PRODUCTIVE COVERSATIONS WITH OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE BUILDING STRONGER REALTIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.

Sarah Vittoria - Assistant Principal, Lorraine Academy #72

SEE THE IMPACT FOR YOURSELF

download summary findings

Change in Receivership Status

In 2017, CITRS, in collaboration with CHARACTER COUNTS!, implemented a groundbreaking comprehensive character initiative in 20 schools in Buffalo Public Schools. Approximately 14,000 pre-K – 12 students have benefited from the initiative, along with teachers, parents, and the surrounding community.

At the start of the CITRS initiative, 9 schools were in receivership. The State of New York had identified these schools as "Persistently Struggling" and/or "Struggling to make Demonstrable Improvement" and on the verge of being shut down. Two years into the initiative, 8 of the 9 schools achieved the necessary improvement to be removed from receivership status.

School Transformation at Harvey Austin School

Buffalo Public School District’s Harvey Austin School #97 was designated a National School of Character by Character.org, the national advocate and leader for character in schools, families, sports and the workplace, headquartered in Washington, DC. It's quite an achievement, especially given the school was under Receivership Status by the State of New York and was on the verge of being shut down. This national recognition as School of Character is the result of Harvey Austin’s unrelenting focus and dedication to the comprehensive initiative managed by CITRS in partnership with CHARACTER COUNTS!.