DCPEACE
Equipping teachers, youth, and families with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively serve as peacebuilders in their communities.Final Evaluation 08-09
Results
➢ 100% of educators and administrators participating in the program reported an increase in their students' ability to manage conflict.➢ Educators reported that improvements in student behavior and decreases in the number of classroom conflicts increased their ability to successfully deliver lessons in reading and math by an average of 75%.
➢ Based on internal testing results during the past three months, there were improvements in both language development skills (13%) and literary text competencies (38%) among the students participating in our program.
➢ School administration reported a 40% decrease in conflicts resulting in physical disturbance as a result of our program.
➢ In the classroom which previously had the most visible physical disturbances, during the pre-assessment 46% of students reported using violence (pushing or hitting) as their way to address a conflict scenario. The results of our mid-program survey reveal that after four months of our programming, only 13% chose violence (pushing or hitting) as an option to address a conflict - a 33% decrease in the use of violence to address real life problems.
➢ 92% of educators surveyed felt that students at their school would benefit from learning conflict resolution skills.
➢ 100% of educators surveyed felt that teachers would benefit from learning conflict resolution skills.
➢ The perception among administrators and educators that violence is a problem at the school has decreased.
➢ According to school administration pre and mid point surveys, there have been improvements in the creation of a welcoming and positive school environment.
➢ “The fifth grade classes have been greatly impacted by the Skills for Understanding workshops.”
-School Principal
➢ “Students are more attentive and eager to learn. Self esteem is on the rise, and their attitudes towards school are promising.”
–5th Grade Teacher
DCPEACE Video
Michelle Rhee
"DCPS must completely rethink its approach to preventing school violence… by teaching students to manage conflicts before they spiral out of control.”
- DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee
Conflict Resolution Poll
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DCPEACE Photos
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Why Elementary Schools?
“Violence is a learned behavior. The values, attitudes, and interpersonal skills acquired early in life play a key role in the development of violent behavior. Because a person’s violent or nonviolent tendencies may be set in early childhood, preschool and elementary school-age children are often thought to be ideal participants in interventions that promote nonviolent values and enhance conflict-resolution skills.”
Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook for Community Action. 2002. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
