YouthBuild USA is working with YouthBuild schools to strengthen their diploma-granting capacity and to prepare all young people for life, work, and citizenship. Because a postsecondary credential is an important stepping stone to a successful career, YouthBuild schools are preparing students to become college-ready by raising their literacy and numeracy skills, strengthening their technology skills, and providing them strong navigation skills.
This work is being conducted as part of the National Schools Initiative (NSI), which is primarily supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The National Schools Initiative is also a part of the larger Alternative High School Initiative. This network of organizations works on the cutting edge of education reform demonstrating that a new type of small, personalized school can succeed with students who are dropping out of traditional schools.
YouthBuild USA's work on academic improvement is also supported by the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, the Lumina Foundation for Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Corporation for National and Community Service .
YouthBuild USA's work with diploma-granting schools
As part of its academic improvement work, YouthBuild USA supports existing diploma-granting YouthBuild schools with whole school improvement focused on preparing young people for postsecondary education and training, careers, and citizenship.
Schools involved in this work with YouthBuild USA receive extensive technical assistance and training for a minimum of two-and-a-half years in areas aligned with their school improvement plans. The NSI Network gathers two or three times a year to share best practices and challenges and to participate in training workshops led by content experts. Schools also receive up to three visits per year from their program advisor or educational coach as well as monthly phone technical assistance. Topics for trainings have included: Integrating technology deeply into teaching and learning; creating positive school culture through good classroom management; building strong transitions to college; getting to college-ready math; college from preparation to Access, Transition and Completion; etc.
YouthBuild USA is also working towards building the overall education capacity at California YouthBuild programs and schools through providing robust curriculum and learning strategies backed up by the necessary teacher training. This initiative works with nine YouthBuild schools and programs, which receive ongoing teacher training on the YouthBuild USA Working Hands, Working Minds construction curriculum, and teachers and other program and school staff are trained to develop college-readiness skills for YouthBuild students. This work is being funded by the Walter S. Johnson Foundation .
More information and resources concerning academic improvement and college readiness are available. Administrators, staff, or teachers can visit the Learning Network Online; students and graduates can go to the Graduate Portal.
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