While there may be LOTS of answers and responses to those questions including the inclusion of our performing arts groups in and on those same facilities -- possibly Dr. Douglas Reeves (national speaker) at the RCOE Education Summit had the best answer! His contention and data indicates that WHEN students are involved in extra-curricular activities (not just athletics) there is a positive association with student academic performance (as measured by their Grade Point Average). As you can see from the graph below, when a student has no (zero) extra-curricular involvement they do not do well academically (GPA = 1.9). However, as the involvement goes up to 3-4 activities we begin to max out on the GPA effect (i.e., 3.5 GPA). Past that point, it becomes questionable if there is much positive effect. Overall there seems to be clear message that providing extra-curricular activities, in fact, IS supporting the academic performance of schools!
This chart displayed fine in my Google Reader but unfortunately not on the blog itself. Questions: Did Reeves talk about correlation v. causation? Do some students' grades go up after they get involved in extra-curricular activities? Otherwise couldn't it just be that the kids who do well in school like school and therefore want to take part in activities?
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