POWER Program

Program Outcomes

The City of Salem, in cooperation with the Salem-Keizer School District, has studied the outcomes of the POWER Program annually each spring since 1997. The original survey was designed by the Northwest Regional Education Laboratory.

Survey Methodology

The annual study has two components: 1) student and 2) teacher, staff, and administration. Every middle school student completes the student survey. It is available in both Spanish and English. Responses are recorded on both Scantron (bubble) sheets, as well as the actual survey, where students provide answers to open-ended questions. Scantron answer sheets are tabulated by the Testing and Evaluation Department of the Salem-Keizer School District, while the City of Salem's Department of Community Services tallies the open-ended responses. Teachers, staff and administrators complete the staff survey, the responses of which are tallied and synthesized by the City of Salem.

The data analysis step of the outcome study has illuminated many aspects of the program. For instance, survey data indicates participation rates as well as barriers to participation and allows input for suggestions from both the youth and the staff at the school. Youth and staff alike identify benefits received from participation. This information, has helped identified program successes as well as areas for improvement. For example, recent survey information indicated that a major participation barrier was transportation home. Steps were taken to provide activity buses for program participants in almost every school, allowing for the safe transport of students to their neighborhoods.

For a summary of the most recent outcome analysis, click on the link below:

• 2006-07 Findings
• 2005-06 Findings
• 2003-04 Findings