Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program
Overview

The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is a research-based, internationally-recognized dropout prevention program that has kept 98 percent of its tutors in school. In the program, secondary students who are considered at-risk of dropping out of school are placed as tutors of elementary students, enabling them to make a difference in the younger students’ lives.

Dropout Prevention and More
The goal of the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is to reduce dropout rates. Participating schools have also seen

• Enhanced basic academic skills and life skills.
• Strengthened perceptions of self and school
• Reduced disciplinary action referrals and absenteeism
• Strengthened school-home-community partnerships.

Research-Based Design
The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program is a research-based program, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. The program was extensively researched in 1989 using a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design with data collected for the treatment and comparison group students before tutoring began, during implementation, and at the end of the first and second program years. More

Role of IDRA
IDRA provides the following to preserve the integrity of the program and ensure that students succeed:

• On-site training and technical assistance to program sites, including orientations and training for teachers, tutors and parents.
• On-site support to teachers.
• Ongoing program monitoring and implementation and coordination with district site implementation team.
• Evaluation and monitoring that supports formative program improvement as well as collection of evaluation data for a summative annual written evaluation.
• Other activities, such as tutor video conferencing, district and regional leadership days, and a national conference.
• Materials needed for implementation team and workbooks for tutors.

Role of Participating Schools
In broadest terms, the role of the schools in the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program includes:

• Supporting the program at the district level;
• Accepting the program’s philosophy as consistent with the school’s mission;
• Setting goals for the school in terms of keeping at-risk students and helping them succeed;
• Resolving to meet these goals through planning and action;
• Committing time, effort and other resources to implementing the program’s critical elements;
• Collecting evaluation information to assess program implementation and program success; and
• Valuing all youth.

Rigorous Evaluation
The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program’s ongoing evaluation provides information throughout the program, allowing for adjustments to ensure a quality program implementation. The program utilizes a pre- post- test evaluation that includes quantitative and qualitative measures to gauge student progress. Students are evaluated by classroom teachers at the elementary and secondary campuses. Evaluation data is collected on a secured web site.

Funding Options 
School districts utilize the following funding sources to implement the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program in their schools: federal funds such as

• Title I: Improving Basic Programs
             Migrant Education
             Neglected Delinquent and At-Risk Youth
• Title III: Language Instruction for LEP and Immigrant Students
• Title IV: Safe & Drug-Free Schools & Communities
               21^st Century Community Learning Centers
• Title V: Innovative Programs
• High School Allotment (Texas only)

Often schools form school business partnerships with Coca-Cola Bottlers, other businesses and local civic groups to secure funds.

Let the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program touch the lives of students, parents and educators in your district.

To get started on your Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program implementation today, contact IDRA at 210-444-1710 or contact@idra.org.