Study says Florida mentoring programs a mixed bag

A legislative study shows two of Florida's six state-funded child mentoring programs are doing well, but results are mixed for the others.

The report released Friday by the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability says the Best Buddies and Take Stock in Children programs outperformed comparison groups of similar students in three or more performance areas.

The Boys and Girls Club, Teen Trendsetters and YMCA Reads! did so in only two areas. Participants in Bigs in Schools had similar or lower performances than their peers.

The state spends $10 million a year on the programs intended to help children from kindergarten through high school enhance their social, life and/or academic skills.