The Department of Defense recently announced the 2016 round of Grants to Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP), designed to support military-connected schools. These have been important programs for schools that serve military families and students, and our evaluations of MCASP programs have shown them to be effective. If your school or district serves military connected families, you should review the application and consider applying.
Arroyo Research Services has evaluated eight MCASP-funded programs. Among them are Operation Patriotic STEAM at Ft. Belvoir Elementary School, which includes its award-winning Kids Lab; Operation MAJOR Success at Mt. Vernon High School and Walt Whitman Middle School; and Mindful Attention to Instruction at Ft. Belvoir Elementary School, all in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Project SPEED (SPED Programs for Educational Enhancement and Development) and Project SMART (Socorro Military Academic Readiness Team) are located in the Socorro Independent School District in Texas. Projects have included after school and summer STEM programs, robotics and coding, support for engineering strands in elementary, middle and high schools, Project Lead the Way, expanded support for military students with special needs and their families, and transition support for military connected students and families as they enter new schools.
Our work typically includes creating MCASP evaluation plans, preparing the required evaluation matrix and logic model, design and administration of student, teacher and family surveys, analysis of achievement and other outcome data, and advice and consultation regarding MCASP grant success. Please contact us if you would like to know more about our MCASP evaluation services and how we can help you succeed in serving military families and other highly mobile students.