The CalSERVES AmeriCorps program is designed to improve academic achievement, resiliency, and school engagement for underserved students. The program provides students in elementary and middle school with individual and small-group tutoring and mentoring sessions during and after school, promoting improved fluency and mastery in math and literacy skills. Students receive 30 minutes of tutoring four days a week, as well as 90 minutes of mentoring per week.

Study Goals:
The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the Napa County Office of Education’s CalSERVES AmeriCorps Program individualized tutoring and mentoring program on participating students' academic performance.  

Research Questions:
The research questions are:

  • Do CalSERVES tutoring recipients demonstrate improved academic performance when compared with a matched group of students who do not receive tutoring services?
  • Do CalSERVES mentoring recipients demonstrate improved social and behavioral skills when compared with a propensity score-matched group of students who do not receive mentoring services?

Findings:
The evaluation found the following:

  • Students in the CalSERVES program did not show a significant difference in literary and math performance when compared to those in the matched comparison group.
  • There were no statistically significant differences in SDQ post-test and sub-scale scores between students who received CalSERVES services and those who did not.
  • Overall results suggest the CalSERVES program provides growth similar to that seen among high-need students receiving non-CalSERVES services from their schools.

For more information, download:

Full Report

Full report

Further information

Program/Intervention
CalSERVES AmeriCorps
Implementing Organization
Napa County Office of Education
Intermediary(s)

CalSERVES

AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps State and National
Age(s) Studied
6-12 (Childhood)
13-17 (Adolescent)
Outcome Category
K-12 success
Study Design(s)
Quasi-experimental (QED)
Level of Evidence
Moderate
Researcher/Evaluator
JBS International, Inc.
Published Year
2020
Study Site Location (State)
California