The MegaSkills Programs are recognized programs with an established academic and character development track record extending over twenty years.

MegaSkills have the unique capacity simultaneously to serve the needs of achievers and those who need to achieve more.

Evaluations of MegaSkills

• Memphis State University researchers, evaluating the impact on families participating in the MegaSkills Workshop Program in Tennessee, found: Homework Time: Children spending six hours a week on homework doubled to 24% from 12% while those spending less than one hour decreased to 4% from 12%. TV Time: Average time children spend watching TV during the school week decreased 31 minutes per week.  Time not spent on TV was spent on homework. Parent/Child Time: Average time parents spent with children each day increased after the workshops to 2.25 hours from 2.02 hours.

• Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas using the MegaSkills Leader Program tracked 1196 students in grades pre K-6 and found students whose parents attended MegaSkills Workshops showed: Higher scores on statewide achievements tests; Higher attendance rates; Fewer discipline problems; Higher test scores than the national average.

• San Diego, CA. Instructors of children whose parents had participated in the MegaSkill program were surveyed at selected participating elementary schools about the changes they saw in these children in the classroom.  A major finding was positive changes in behaviors and attitudes observed for large majorities of the children. More organized and ready for learning 74%; Improved conduct and discipline 67%; More completion of homework 78%; More ability to work cooperatively 79%.

The MegaSkills Programs have been used with diverse populations, including special education, in a variety of settings: Groups served include African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific, newly arriving immigrant families and at-risk families. Materials are culturally sensitive and have been translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Lao and Creole for non-English speaking families.

The MegaSkills Program is identified by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) as a nationally recognized character education program, and hundreds of websites link MegaSkills and character education.

©The Home and School Institute, 2008

Based on the book MegaSkills®: Building Children's Achievement for the Information Age

by Dorothy Rich, Ed.D.

MegaSkills Education Center
1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Wash., DC 20005
(202) 466-3633
www.MegaSkills.org