Recently Devonshire elementary (NC) was featured on the Today Show for its innovative programs of giving low income minority children extra attention, including a full time social worker in the class room. 40 years ago there was a study done in Columbus, Ohio called "The prevention of juvenile delinquency; an experiment" Ohio State University Press, 1972, by Walter C. Reckless.
"Bad boys" (they'd already had some contact with the law and came from troubled families) were assigned to 2 groups--intervention and control, and compared to "good boys" who had never been in trouble. The intervention group got every possible assistance including special counseling, assigned role models, extra tutoring, and special help for interpersonal relationships. The control group took the same classes, but got no extra help. The third group made up of kids who'd never been in trouble just proceeded as usual. At the end of 4 years, the students, parents, and teachers were all enthusiastic and loved the program. All believed it had made a difference. Unfortunately, it made no difference in the enriched group's drop out rate, contacts with the law, disciplinary events, behavior, or grades. They were the same as the control group.
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