Program Components
BOAST Participants
BOAST Achievements
Wider Influence
BOAST Support
Cost
Visions

BOAST Home

Program Components:

• Educational enrichment activities provided to all Academy participants on a daily basis.


• Extended-day program offered 2:00 - 5:30 on all days when Kenwood is in session.


• 4:1 child-staff ratio allowing BOAST staff to share their enthusiasm for learning.


• Individualized education plan for each BOAST child, including tutoring and homework help.


• Weekly hands-on science lessons at the Academy.


• Educational field trips on early dismissal days.


• Intersession Workshops open to all Champaign children on the balanced calendar.

BOAST Participants:

Kenwood faculty and staff recommend pupils in grades K-5 to the Academy.

BOAST Achievements:

• Since July 1997, shortly after BOAST relocated to Kenwood, not a single child who has regularly participated in BOAST has repeated a grade while enrolled in the program.


• In a typical year children who attend all BOAST sessions increase the time they spend on academics by about 520 hours .


• In a typical year, BOAST staff logs more than 900 family and 700 faculty contacts.


• BOAST Academy participants enrolled in Title I remedial reading, with BOAST staff support, make continued progress and usually test out of the Title I Program after one year.


• The BOAST Academy uses the Science Process Assessment for Elementary School students to measure participant growth in 13 science process skills. Data from this instrument indicate that, on average , BOAST participants improve in 11 of the 13 science process skills over the academic year.


• The BOAST Academy uses the information from the SEARCH Institute to collect data about the developmental assets of Academy participants. The data suggests that i mprovement is shown in the following assets : parental involvement, positive attitude toward school, following school rules, being actively engaged in learning, completing class work, completing homework, working independently, and resolving conflicts non-violently.


• Kenwood staff consistently report that the majority of children in BOAST show growth in reading, writing, and math skills over the academic year.

BOAST's Wider Influence:

• The BOAST website receives an average of 150 hits a wee k (http://www.life.uiuc.edu/hughes/boast). The Virginia State Board of Education and the National Science Teachers Association have linked to the hands-on science lessons BOAST has developed and posted on their website.


• During the spring of 2002, BOAST brought enrichment to other Champaign children by giving a hands-on science lesson to all the third and fourth grade classes at Kenwood plus two classes at Dr. Howard School, reaching 180 additional children . In spring 2003 BOAST similarly brought a hands-on science lesson to all the third, fourth, and fifth grade classes at Kenwood, reaching over 180 additional children.


• Since 1995, when BOAST children first participated in the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellows Poster Session at UIUC , over 50 BOAST participants have presented posters alongside UIUC undergraduates, a life-changing experience for many of the children.


• In April, 2001, BOAST Education Director Ellen Baranowski was awarded a grant of $1,830 from the Champaign Urbana Community Schools Foundation. This grant funded materials for science enrichment activities at BOAST for the 2001-02 school year. In 2003 she received a grant for $2500 from the same source for different science enrichment activities for 2003-04.


• BOAST allows UIUC students to share their enthusiasm for science with disadvantaged local children. It fosters children's interest in science by providing them with opportunities to learn and explore the physical and life sciences and technology.


• Over 90% of BOAST volunteers and staff are UIUC students, providing a valuable opportunity for service learning . Several students have changed their career paths after working at BOAST.


• Volunteers are a vital resource to the Academy. In a typical year about 30 volunteers give 1000 hours to BOAST, both in program support and as tutors.

BOAST Support:

• UIUC Howard Hughes Program for Undergraduate Science Education
• NSF Nanoscience and Engineering Center for the Directed Assembly of Nanostructures at RPI and UIUC
• Champaign Unit 4 School District
• Kenwood Elementary School

Cost of BOAST per child per year:

• As currently funded, including all grants, fees, and in-kind support: ~ $4,000 (Fee charged per child $2140, annually).
• If adequately funded: ~ $6.000.

Visions

• Enrolling the 20 - 30 students who are on the waiting list each year.


• Two classrooms dedicated to the BOAST Academy - one for children in grades K - 2, another for children in grades 3 - 5.


• A full-time education director to help design the overall program, plan and prepare daily enrichment assignments, individualize the program for each participant, and train the staff.


• Increased staff to present a hands-on science lesson to every Kenwood class at least once a quarter.


• Contract with consultant for independent program assessment, including more complete, long-term evaluation to determine how BOAST children compare to those not enrolled.


• Scholarship fund adequate to support children whose families do not qualify for the state childcare subsidy but who cannot afford to pay for BOAST.


• Funding for transportation and drivers for field trips.