The Caring School Community™ program comprises four highly effective elements first developed for DSC’s Child Development Project—class meetings, a cross-age buddies program, home-side activities, and schoolwide community building. The U.S. Department of Education has recently highlighted the Caring School Community program’s research base and effectiveness.

Multiple evaluations

Multiple evaluations of these combined approaches showed significant positive effects on the students. Evaluations were made over a twenty-year period in a wide range of elementary schools—including urban and rural schools, large and small schools, and schools with diverse socioeconomic and ethnic populations. They showed significant positive effects of these combined approaches on the students’ motivation to achieve. They also showed an impact on the students’ positive social tendencies and, over time, on their grade and test scores.

Nationwide study

A nationwide, six-district study examined the impact of the Child Development Project in 12 ethnically diverse schools. Students’ attitudes and behaviors were compared with those of students in 12 matched schools.

• After three years of implementation, the program led to a wide range of positive outcomes in schools that consistently implemented it.


• Despite the fact that the program lasted only through elementary school, its influence was enduring.


• All differences are statistically significant.