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Challenging Horizons Program

An Effective Practice

Description

The goal of the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP) is to help students with learning or behavior problems improve their academic performance, citizenship, and health.

CHP staff collaborate with educational professionals or community leaders at participating schools to refine the program components. After initial collaboration and training, program leaders are expected to deliver the program and CHP staff remain available to provide support as is necessary.

CHP always maintains a low student to teacher ratio. During implementation, the environment is rich in social reinforcement, consistently enforced rules, and tangible rewards. Students receive training in enabling skills, specific educational skills, and social skills and participate in various activities designed to improve fitness, sports skills, and group cooperation.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Challenging Horizons Program is to help students with learning or behavior problems improve their academic performance, citizenship, and health.

Results / Accomplishments

One study reported on a group of students that received the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP) and compared those students to a community care group. According to parent ratings, 50% of CHP students began the year in the impaired range for academic functioning and 60% of those students completed the year in the normal range. In comparison, 71% of students in the community care group began the year in the impaired range and only 20% of those students finished the year in the normal range.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
South Carolina Student Excellence
Primary Contact
Bradley Smith
University of Houston
481 Farish Hall, 4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, TX 77004
drbradleyhsmith@gmail.com
Topics
Health / Other Conditions
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
South Carolina Student Excellence
Date of publication
2005
Date of implementation
2001
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Columbia, SC
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Additional Audience
learning or behavior problems
Kansas Health Matters