Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Black Girl Speaks to Perform at Middleton High School for Three Participating High Schools (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

Black Girl Speaks (BGS) will perform at Middleton High School for approximately 100 female students of all ethnic groups, in grades 9 - 12, from Blake, Chamberlain, and Middleton High Schools. The focus of this program is to improve student morale, increase student participation in the classroom, and improve social and academic behaviors within the female student population.

The BGS curriculum expands vocabulary, increases self-esteem, self-awareness, and writing effectiveness. Workshops and lectures provide a distinctive experience enhancing creative writing skills and reading comprehension, and teaches conflict resolution techniques. Participants are engaged in thought-provoking discussions that encourage them to express themselves through the power of word, rather than violence or other destructive means. The workshops are tailored to meet the specific needs of the audience.

Students who exemplify excellent writing skills will participate in "Write Out Loud!" a teen poetry slam competition held annually.

* Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates

The cost of this agreement ($75,000) will be paid for using Title I funds.

A survey will be disseminated to the student, student's teachers, guidance counselors, and parents of the involved students. The survey analyzes the student's social and academic behaviors prior to and after the participation in the program. Further assessment of the students improvement in their grade point average and attendance, and a decrease in disciplinary referrals will be measured.