University Study Says CNE VFZ Program Cutting Violence, Suspensions in Milwaukee Schools

In a media conference January 13, researchers from Baylor University who performed a case study/evaluation of the CNE Violence-Free Zone program in Milwaukee said that the VFZ has had an immediate effect on the schools in three areas: improved safety, increased presence of students (reductions in suspensions and truancies) and improved academic performance. The research team led by Dr. Byron Johnson, Director of the Baylor Program on Prosocial Behavior and Baylor Fellow William Wubbenhorst examined six Milwaukee public high schools that had the Violence-Free Zone program for the full 2007/2008 school year and compared them pre-and post-VFZ. Three of the schools are large single faculty (Regular VFZ); and three schools have two or more sub-division schools housed on the same campus (Sub-division VFZ). The researchers conducted in-depth interviews of MPS staff, Violence-Free Zone staff, Milwaukee foundations funding the VFZ program, and others with knowledge of the program. They also analyzed data provided by Milwaukee Public Schools including Student and Parent Climate Surveys (questions about safety) and MPS data on suspensions, truancies, violent, non-violent incidents, and academic performance. Some of the findings included:

•  Violent incidents dropped 32% at Regular VFZ schools and 8% at Subdivision VFZ schools, while increasing 3% for non-VFZ Milwaukee public high schools.                  
• Non-violent Incidents decreased 20% at Regular VFZ schools while staying essentially even at Subdivision VFZ schools—and increasing 10% at non-VFZ high schools.

•  Suspensions dropped 37% at Regular VFZ schools, and dropped 44% at Subdivision VFZ schools.

The researchers noted that while academic performance is not the focus of the Violence-Free Zone initiative, “it is logical to expect that academic performance, and in this case GPA, might improve as a result of other factors regarding the school environment.” GPA increased 3.82% at Regular VFZ schools and 4.56% at Subdivision VFZ schools, while remaining even at non-VFZ Milwaukee high schools.

The Milwaukee Violence-Free Zone is implemented by CNE’s Milwaukee community partners the Latino Community Center and Running Rebels Community Organization. Milwaukee Public Schools added two more schools for the 2008/2009 school year, bringing the number to eight Milwaukee high schools with the Violence-Free Zone. (1/13/09)

Media Links:

Program helps battle violence in Milwaukee schools, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Violence and suspensions are down in Milwaukee Public Schools, WISN Channel 12, Milwaukee

Suspensions and Violence Decline in Some MPS Schools

Bob Woodson Awarded Presidential Citizens Medal (more)

VFZ Helps Reduce School Suspensions

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent William Andrekopoulos said that as of the end of November, there has been a decline of 15% in the number of high school students who have been suspended from school. One factor, he said, is the launching of the Violence-Free Zone programs in a number of schools. He also said that there has been more training of teachers in how to manage a classroom, as well as the introduction of School Resource Officers in a number of schools. (12/2/08

www.jsonline.com/news/education/35350184.html

Reducing Discipline Incidents in Richmond High School

Early results from the first quarter of the 2008/2009 school year at Richmond’s George Wythe High School indicates a significant impact by the new Violence-Free Zone. Total disciplinary incidents reported by the school dropped 22% from the previous quarter. Students enrolled in the VFZ high-need student mentoring program had a drop of 38% in discipline incidents. Introduced this fall, the VFZ is implemented in George Wythe High School by CNE’s Richmond community partner, The ROC. The Richmond VFZ has the strong support of the Richmond Police Department. (12/1/08)

CNE Wins Social Entrepreneurship Award

The Manhattan Institute for Public Policy Research has announced that the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise and founder Robert L. Woodson, Sr. will receive the Institute’s 2008 Social Entrepreneurship Award. In a media release, the organization said that Woodson “has targeted one of the most pressing issues facing the nation, violence in our schools, giving children in inner-city neighborhoods a chance for the future.” In describing the CNE Violence-Free Zone initiative, the Manhattan Institute said “its common-sense approach is both simple and effective. It links adult community members with neighborhood schools, to help stop fights before they start, both by enforcing school discipline and mediation. From its start in Washington, DC, the Violence-Free Zone program has expanded rapidly to cities across the country.”

The $25,000 prizes will be presented to five 2008 Social Entrepreneurship award-winners in New York City on Monday, October 27. Winners are selected through a process of nomination, screening, extended interview, and a site visit by Institute staff. Manhattan Vice President Howard Husock visited the Atlanta Violence-Free Zone earlier this month to see the program in action. The Atlanta VFZ is implemented in the schools by CNE’s community partner Visions Unlimited. The award will be accepted in New York by CNE Vice-President Terence Mathis and CNE National Violence-Free Zone Director Kwame Johnson. (9/23/08)

Richmond VFZ Becomes a Reality

The Richmond, VA School Board on August 4 overwhelmingly voted to have the Center for Neighborhood’s Violence-Free Zone implemented in Richmond’s George Wythe High School starting in September. Richmond Interim Police Chief David McCoy led the presentation to the board. Wythe high school was selected because of its high rates of violence and truancy, with 44% of all the truancies in the entire high school system occurring at there. The VFZ program is being funded by the Richmond Police Foundation, which is providing a two-year commitment. It will be carried out in the school by CNE’s Richmond community partner organization, called The ROC (Richmond Outreach Center). Three top Richmond police officials and The ROC’s executive director and program director traveled to Milwaukee in mid-August to see the VFZ in action there. (8/19/08)

Milwaukee Honors 15 MPS Students for Behavior, Academic Achievements

More than 200 business, government, and nonprofit leaders assembled to honor 15 students from seven Milwaukee High Schools for succeeding against the odds—for turn-arounds in their behavior and/or for excelling in academics despite challenging circumstances. The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 27. Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent William Andrekopoulos and principals from the seven high schools participating in the CNE Violence-Free Zone program presented trophies and medallions to the students. It was the second in a series of “Staying True” awards, created by the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) and its Milwaukee community partners the Latino Community Center (LCC) and the Running Rebels Community Organization (RRCO). The CNE Violence-Free Zone (VFZ) program is currently helping to reduce violence and motivate students at Milwaukee’s Bay View, Custer, Madison, Marshall, North Division, South Division, and Washington High Schools. One student from each school was honored for Most Improved Behavior and one for Academic Achievement in Challenging Circumstances. At Bay View High School, twin sisters received the behavior award, bringing the total number of awardees to 15. (5/27/08) more

VFZ Successfully Working in Antelope Valley, CA

The CNE Violence-Free Zone programs in two public high schools in California’s Antelope Valley towns of Palmdale and Lancaster are making significant impacts on violence and other negative indices. Despite a total increase in enrollment of 14% between the two schools, total fights were down this year 2%, gang activity down 2%, class cutting down 89%, citation loitering down 21%, and disrespect down 31%. These figures were reported to the school boards and city councils by CNE's Antelope Valley community partner Murrell's Farm and Boy's Home.

(5/7/08)

Milwaukee VFZ Schools Show Double Digit Reductions in Violence

Second quarter results released by the Milwaukee Public Schools show double-digit reductions in violent and non-violent incidents at the six Milwaukee public high schools with the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise’s Violence-Free Zone initiative. Compared to the same period a year ago, the overall record for the six schools is a 23% reduction in violent incidents (fighting, assaults, gang activity, etc.) and an 11% decrease in non-violent incidents (class disruptions, disorderly conduct, etc.). The six schools posted an aggregate drop in suspensions from 35% to 32%, or a 9% reduction. The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise Violence-Free Zone program is implemented in Milwaukee by The Latino Community Center and Running Rebels Community Organization. More

(4/28/08)

CNE President is 2008 Bradley Prize Winner

CNE President Robert L. Woodson, Sr. has been named the recipient of one of four 2008 Bradley Prizes for outstanding achievement. The award will be presented June 4 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. In announcing the award, Bradley Foundation President and CEO Michael W. Grebe said “Woodson’s commitment has yielded remarkable results in reducing youth crime and gang activity in Washington DC, Dallas, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Prince George’s County, MD.” Woodson originated community-based Violence-Free Zone initiative that is successfully reducing youth violence and disruptions in 28 public middle and high schools around the country. more
(5/1/08)