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Excellence in Education Awards Murchison Street Elementary School 1501 Murchison Street, Los Angeles Robert Bilovsky, Principal A LEARN School Lincoln/Wilson Cluster-David Almada, Cluster Administrator RESULTS: Reading achievement test scores as measured by Stanford 9 and APRENDA combined have improved from the 33rd percentile (1996-97) to the 37th percentile (1997-98). The increase in achievement scores is attributed to an intense school-wide focus on literacy development. Official suspensions decreased from 12 during 1996-97 to 3 during 1997-98. Attendance is at 97%, one of the highest rates in the school district, and attributable to the on-site health services that treat minor illnesses and prevent extended absences. Attendance at parent-teacher conferences has risen to 98%. On evaluations parents overwhelmingly concur that the Murchison Family Center has positively impacted their lives and helps them become better parents. Over the past seven years, the Murchison Family Center (MFC) has been developed as an integrated services center on Murchison Street School's kindergarten through fifth grade campus. MFC is designed to provide comprehensive prevention-oriented services via case management that are easily accessible to students and families. The goal of the MFC is to improve the conditions of teaching and learning within the school by attending to the personal and social problems that interfere with success in school. One study of 25 students whose families were case-managed in the MFC revealed that individual counseling of acting out students led to reductions in classroom outbursts and disruptiveness. The counseling positively affected withdrawn, aggressive and frequently absent students. The Center involves the coordinated efforts of a broad group of professionals and human service agencies working together to address the health, mental health and social services needs of Murchison's children and families. Students and families are referred to the MFC by teachers and other school staff or by parents. Each Monday morning, a collaborative team comprised of school and on-site agency partners reviews the referrals and develops comprehensive service plans. Teams may consist of school representatives including the center coordinator, site administrator, school nurse, school psychologist, drop-out prevention counselor, speech therapist, resource specialist, and parent advocate; and agency representatives including Department of Children and Family Service, Ramona Gardens Community Service Center, Los Angeles County-USC Psychiatric Fellow, Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center Violence Prevention Program and Masters in Social Work Interns. Each year since its inception, the MFC has serviced more than 150 students and their families. The MFC offers a variety of activities and services, including weekly collaborative case conferences on teacher, parent and service provider referrals; case management; counseling; limited pediatric and health services; parent room and parenting classes; peace builders/conflict busters; Department of Water and Power sponsored attendance and good conduct/citizenship incentive programs, and AMIGOS, an early mental health intervention program for kindergarten through third grade students who are identified as at-risk. Evaluation data collected for the California Department of Mental Health showed some level of improvement in overall school adjustment, specifically social behaviors, peer-rated behaviors and classroom work habits.